Mike Zambidis

Michalis "Iron Mike" Zambidis (Greek: Μιχάλης Ζαμπίδης; born July 15, 1980) is a professional Greek kickboxer and martial artist. He is a 16 time World Champion, and is the current SUPERKOMBAT Middleweight Champion also competing in the K-1 MAX.

Mike Zambidis started training in martial arts before he was nine years old with his brother Spiros Zambidis and his best friend Lazaros Filipas. He has trained in Shotokan, Kickboxing, Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling and Pankration. He started competing professionally in 2000, scoring a string of victories over notable opponents. So far, the majority of his wins have been knock-outs. He has been technically knocked out twice himself early in his career due to cuts, but after 2002, his next technical knock-out defeat came in 2008 against Andy Souwer in an extra round.

From 2000 till 2002, Zambidis defeated notable kickboxer Jenk Behic twice, Gürkan Özkan twice, Baris Nezif, Wanlop Sosathopan, Bakari Tounkara, Matteo Sciacca and Petr Polak. In 2002, he knocked out the strong and experienced Dutch-Moroccan Hassan Kassrioui. On November 26, 2002 he won the K-1 Oceania MAX 2002 title after defeating John Wayne Parr in the final.

In 2003, promoter Tarik Solak arranged Zambidis' debut fight in Japan against 2002 World K-1 Max Champion Albert Kraus, whom he knocked out in the 2nd round. In April 2005, Zambidis knocked out with a right hook the popular Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, in front of thousands of the Japanese kickboxer's fans. Zambidis' weakness seems to be receiving low kicks, as was seen in his 2006 defeat by Japanese Yoshihiro Sato, who, despite getting hurt by Zambidis' punches, managed to land many kicks and knees which racked up enough points to "secure a unanimous decision." Zambidis is a 4 time national champion in kickboxing as well as holding a large number of international titles.

In addition to his many outstanding fights, the K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16 match on October the 3rd, 2010 against Chahid Oulad El Hadj was notable as being one of the most exciting of his career. In addition, as stated by ring side commentators "Sugar" Ray Sefo and Michael "The Voice" Schiavello, this contest was one by which a standard was set for other K-1 fights. However, Zambidis did not make it to the final as he lost to Giorgio Petrosyan by controversial unanimous decision. Zambidis clearly knocked down Petrosyan in the fight, but it was ruled a slip by the referee. Therefore, Petrosyan did not lose the round 10-8 as he should have, and the fight was not permitted to go to an extension fourth round. At the time, Zambidis came the closest to breaking Petrosyan's legendary undefeated streak.

Zambidis fought a rubber match (both having won 1 match apiece) with Australian Muay Thai champion John Wayne Parr in May 2011. He lost by TKO (three knockdowns) in round 1.

He defeated Reece McAllister by unanimous decision in the quarter-finals of the K-1 World MAX 2012 World Championship Tournament Final in Athens, Greece on December 15, 2012. He was then battered into submission by the eventual champion Murthel Groenhart in the semis. The much larger Groenhart ruthlessly trashed Zambidis with knees and punches, forcing his corner to stop the fight at the end of round two.

He was expected to compete in a four-man tournament in Russia on May 25, 2013, facing Dzhabar Askerov in the semi-finals. However, he was replaced by Enriko Gogokhia.

Zambidis beat Harun Kina by unanimous decision for the vacant SUPERKOMBAT Middleweight Championship at SUPERKOMBAT VIP Edition in Bucharest, Romania on August 31, 2013.

He was scheduled to fight Elam Ngor at the K-1 World MAX 2013 World Championship Tournament Final 16 in Majorca, Spain on September 14, 2013. However, he withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Ismat Aghazade.

He lost to Xu Yan by unanimous decision, suffering knockdowns in rounds one and two, at Hero Legends in Jinan, China on January 3, 2014.

Zambidis and Batu Khasikov had a rematch fight and challenge the WKN Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship at Fight Night: Battle of Moscow XV event in Moscow, Russia on March 28, 2014. The Russian Batu Khasikov won the battle again for the second time.

He won his first defence of his SUPERKOMBAT middleweight title against Harun Kina on January 17 at Iron Challenge 2015 from Athens, Greece.

In May 2015 he announced he would retire after his final fight in June, in his home country of Greece. This happened on 5 June 2015.

• 2013 SUPERKOMBAT Middleweight Championship -71 kg/156.5lb (One time)
• 2012 K-1 World MAX 3rd Place
• 2012 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -71 kg (5th title defence)
• 2011 W5 World Grand Prix KO World Champion -71 kg
• 2011 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (4th title defence)
• 2010 K-1 World MAX 3rd Place
• 2009 World PROFI World Champion (1st title defence)
• 2008 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (3rd title defence)
• 2008 A-1 Combat Cup Super Welterweight World Champion
• 2006 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (2nd title defence)
• 2005 World PROFI World Champion
• 2005 W.K.B.F. Super Welterweight World Champion
• 2005 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (1st title defence)
• 2004 A-1 World Combat Cup Champion -76 kg
• 2003 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg
• 2002 W.O.K.A Super Welterweight World Champion (4th title defence)
• 2002 K-1 World Max Oceania Champion
• 2002 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Thai Boxing Tournament Champion
• 2001 W.O.K.A Super Welterweight World Champion (3 title defences that year)
• 2000 W.O.K.A Super Welterweight World Champion
• 1998 World PROFI Europe Champion
• 1997 I.S.K.A. Balkan Champion
• 1996/1998/1999/2000 Greek Boxing Champion

• "Iron Mike wins the W5 world title!!!". www.ironmikezambidis.com. Retrieved 2011-04-09. 
• "Mike Zambidis wins Iron Challenge and retains his title". www.ironmikezambidis.com. Retrieved 2011-03-16. 
• "Mike Zambidis vs Rhassan Muhareb". www.dailymotion.com. Retrieved 2011-03-16. 
• "Newsletter 23/1/09 - ironimkezambidis.com". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2011-03-16. 
• "Iron Challenge - Lord of Rings (In Greek)". www.lordofrings.gr. Retrieved 2011-03-16. 
• "Iron Mick Zambidis vs Danny the rock Dawson". www.sherdog.net. Retrieved 2011-03-16. 
• "zambo - International Kickboxer Forum". www.kickboxermag.com.au. Retrieved 2011-03-16. 
• ^ "TARIK SOLAK PRESENTS - GREECE & SERBIA FIGHTS THE WORLD". www.kickboxing.com.au. Retrieved 2011-03-16. 
• "A1 Tournament". www.angelfire.com. Retrieved 2011-03-16. 
• "Ax Muay Thai / Kickboxing Forum - Zambidis Wins Over Wanlop". message.axkickboxing.com. Retrieved 2011-03-16. 
• "Carli (Info on Zambidis King of the Ring tourny win - in Italian)". www.megathai.it. Retrieved 2011-03-16.