Jörgen Ingmar Kruth (born May 8, 1974) is a retired Swedish professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is a former two time World Muay Thai Council Heavyweight Muaythai World Champion. He is considered to be among the greatest

Scandinavia Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...

n kickboxers of all time.

Biography and career

Muay Thai career

Jörgen started practicing

martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...

first time in 1984. He tried

Judo is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, combat sport, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyc ...

and

Jujutsu Jujutsu ( , or ), also known as jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu (both ), is a Japanese martial art and a system of close combat that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdue one or more weaponless or armed and armored opponent ...

and couple years later switched over to

taekwondo Taekwondo (; ; ) is a Korean martial art and combat sport involving primarily kicking techniques and punching. "Taekwondo" can be translated as ''tae'' ("strike with foot"), ''kwon'' ("strike with hand"), and ''do'' ("the art or way"). In ad ...

. It was not until 1987 when he came in contact with

Muay Thai Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...

first time. He started to train under Po Lindwall. Kruth had his first Muay Thai fight in 1988 at the age of 14. In 1993 he had 3 amateur

boxing Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as boxing glove, protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing Punch (combat), punch ...

bouts and as well as two

Savate Savate (), also known as French Boxing (French language, French: ''Boxe Française'') or French Foot Fighting, is a French hybrid martial art and full-contact combat sport that combines principles of boxing, western boxing with a wide variety ...

fights. In 1994, at the age of 19, he became Nordic Muaythai Champion. In 1995, Kruth participated at IAMTF Amateur World Muay Thai Championships in Bangkok. He worked his way all the way to the final where he lost against a Thai and went home with a silver medal in -81 kg. In 1996, he became the Amateur Muay Thai World Champion for the first time and defended this title in 1997 as well. In 1997 Jörgen changed his training center to his current club, Vallentuna Boxing Camp (VBC) and a year later turned pro. He won his first two professional fights by KO at the famous Rajadamnern Stadium in

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

and became WKA Muay Thai Cruiserweight World Champion. In 1999 Jörgen Kruth fought in Japan for the first time and won by KO. He followed up his strong debut by knocking out all three opponents in the same night at K-1 World GP tournament in

Zagreb Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...

. In 2004, Kruth became the WMC Heavyweight Muay Thai World Champion defeating Polish-Australian Paul Slowinski. In February 2005, he defended his title against Sergei Gur from

Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...

MMA career

Kruth made his professional MMA debut in April 2009. He amassed an undefeated record of 5 wins over the next couple of years with none of his fights having reached the second round. Kruth was expected to make his UFC debut on April 14, 2012 against Cyrille Diabaté at UFC on Fuel TV 2. However, Kruth was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Tom DeBlass. Kruth was expected to finally make his UFC debut against Fabio Maldonado on September 29, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV 5 in Nottingham, England. However it was reported on September 7, 2012 that Kruth dropped out of his fight with Maldonado to retire from combat sports.

Titles

*Professional ** 2004 WMC Superheavyweight Muay Thai World Champion ** 2004 K-1 Italy Champion ** 2003 K-1 World Grand Prix Preliminary Holland Champion ** 2001 K-1 Holland GP in Arnhem Runner Up ** 2000 K-1 Grand Prix Europe Champion ** 1998 WKA Muaythai Cruiserweight World Champion *Amateur ** 1997 WKA Amateur World Championships, Copenhagen, Denmark ** 1997 IAMTF World Amateur Muaythai Championships, Bangkok, Thailand ** 1996 IAMTF World Amateur Muaythai Champion, Bangkok, Thailand ** 1995 IAMTF World Amateur Muaythai World Champion, Bangkok, Thailand (-81 kg) ** 1994 Nordic Muay Thai Champion

Kickboxing record

, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2010-11-27 , , Win , , align=left, Bob Sapp , , K-1 Scandinavia Rumble of the Kings 2010 , ,

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, , TKO (Corner stoppage/left knee strike) , , 1 , , 1:19 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2007-05-20 , , Win , , align=left, Freddy Kemayo , , K-1 Scandinavia 2007 , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2006-12-16 , , Loss , , align=left, Dzevad Poturak , , K-1 Fighting Network Prague Round '07 , , Prague, Czech Republic , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2006-11-24 , , Win , , align=left, Azem Maksutaj , , K-1 World MAX North European Qualification 2007 , ,

, , KO (Knee) , , 1 , , 1:30 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2006-05-20 , , Win , , align=left, Francois Botha , , K-1 Scandinavia Grand Prix 2006 , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2005-12-18 , , Loss , , align=left, Dzevad Poturak , , Heaven or Hell 5 , , Prague, Czech Republic , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2005-02-19 , , Win , , align=left, Sergei Gur , , SM Thaiboxing Gala , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2004-12-19 , , Win , , align=left, Ivica Perkovic , , Heaven or Hell 4 , , Prague, Czech Republic , , TKO , , 2 , , , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2004-09-05 , , Win , , align=left, Paul Slowinski , , SM Thaiboxing Gala , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2004-08-07 , , Loss , , align=left, Brecht Wallis , , K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas II , ,

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, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2004-08-07 , , Win , , align=left, Rony Sefo , , K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas II , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2004-04-24 , , Win , , align=left, Vitali Akhramenko , , K-1 Italy Grand Prix 2004 in Milan , , Milan, Italy , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2004-04-24 , , Win , , align=left, Josip Bodrozic , , K-1 Italy Grand Prix 2004 in Milan , , Milan, Italy , , KO (Right overhand) , , 3 , , 2:59 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2004-04-24 , , Win , , align=left, Ivica Perkovic , , K-1 Italy Grand Prix 2004 in Milan , , Milan, Italy , , TKO (Ref. stop/three knockdowns) , , 2 , , 2:30 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2004-02-14 , , Win , , align=left, Vitali Akhramenko , , K-1 Scandinavia 2004 World Qualification , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2003-06-15 , , Loss , , align=left, Paul Slowinski , , Knees of Fury IV , , Adelaide, Australia , , TKO (Doc. stop/elbow) , , 1 , , , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2003-05-30 , , Loss , , align=left, Xhavit Bajrami , , K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Basel , , Basel, Switzerland , , Ext. R Decision (Split) , , 4 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2003-04-06 , , Win , , align=left, Samir Benazzouz , , K-1 Holland Grand Prix 2003 , , Zoetermeer,

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2003-04-06 , , Win , , align=left, Andrei Zuravkov , , K-1 Holland Grand Prix 2003 , , Zoetermeer,

, , Ext.R Decision (Majority) , , 4 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2003-04-06 , , Loss , , align=left, Brecht Wallis , , K-1 Holland Grand Prix 2003 , , Zoetermeer,

, , Ext.R Decision (Majority) , , 4 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2003-03-15 , , Win , , align=left, Vitali Akhramenko , , K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Preliminary Scandinavia , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2003-02-22 , , Win , , align=left, Ryuto Noji , , Ichigeki Tokyo , ,

Tokyo, Japan Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2002-03-03 , , Loss , , align=left, Jan Nortje , , K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Nagoya , , Nagoya, Japan , , KO (Left punch) , , 2 , , 1:38 , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2001-08-11 , , Loss , , align=left, Maurice Smith , , K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Las Vegas , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2001-06-09 , , Loss , , align=left, Gregory Tony , , K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary Scandinavia , , Copenhagen, Denmark , , Disqualification , , 3 , , 2:38 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2001-03-17 , , Win , , align=left, Stefan Leko , , K-1 Gladiators 2001 , , Yokohama, Japan , , KO (Right hook) , , 2 , , 2:19 , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2001-02-04 , , Loss , , align=left,

Jerrel Venetiaan Jerrel Venetiaan (born March 9, 1971) is a retired Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist who fought in K-1. As a MMA fighter he fought in Pride Fighting Championships. Championships and accomplishments Kickboxing *2004 King Of The Ring ...

, , K-1 Holland GP 2001 in Arnhem , ,

Arnhem Arnhem ( ; ; Central Dutch dialects, Ernems: ''Èrnem'') is a Cities of the Netherlands, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands, near the German border. It is the capita ...

, , TKO (Doctor stoppage) , , 1 , , , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2001-02-04 , , Win , , align=left, Marc de Wit , , K-1 Holland GP 2001 in Arnhem , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2001-02-04 , , Win , , align=left, Peter Varga , , K-1 Holland GP 2001 in Arnhem , ,

, , KO (High kick) , , 2 , , , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2000-10-09 , , Loss , , align=left, Mike Bernardo , , K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Fukuoka , , Fukuoka, Japan , , KO (Right overhand) , , 1 , , 2:24 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2000-09-01 , , Win , , align=left, Xhavit Bajrami , , K-1 Grand Prix Europe 2000 , , Zagreb, Croatia , , KO (High kick) , , 3 , , , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2000-09-01 , , Win , , align=left, Drazo Orduri , , K-1 Grand Prix Europe 2000 , , Zagreb, Croatia , , KO (Knees) , , 1 , , , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2000-09-01 , , Win , , align=left, Tony Katoni , , K-1 Grand Prix Europe 2000 , , Zagreb, Croatia , , KO (Punch) , , 1 , , , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2000-03-13 , , Loss , , align=left, Alexey Ignashov , , Night Club "Reaktor" , , Minsk, Belarus , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 1999-08-15 , , Loss , , align=left, Alexey Ignashov , , Queen's Birthday, Rajamangala Stadium , ,

Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

, , KO , , 2 , , , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1998 , , Win , , align=left, , , , , , , KO , , 1 , , , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1998 , , Win , , align=left, , , Rajadamnern Stadium , ,

, , KO , , , , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1998 , , Win , , align=left, , , Rajadamnern Stadium , ,

, , KO , , , , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1994-12-03 , , Win , , align=left, , , Novahalli , , Helsinki, Finland , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2004-04-17 , , Win , , align=left, Marek Zelo , , Baltic Hall, Mariehamn,

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 4 , , 3:00 , , 1-0 , - , colspan=9 , ''Legend'':

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 5-0 , Yusuke Kawaguchi , TKO (punches and elbows) , Rumble of the Kings 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:18 ,

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 4-0 , Tadas Sapoka , TKO (submission to punches) , International Fighting Arena 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:38 ,

Uppsala Uppsala ( ; ; archaically spelled ''Upsala'') is the capital of Uppsala County and the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, fourth-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. It had 177,074 inhabitants in 2019. Loc ...

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 3-0 , Jaime Fletcher , TKO (punches) , K-1 Rumble of the Kings 2009 in Stockholm , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:25 ,

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 2-0 , Tadas Levickas , Submission (triangle choke) , K-1 Rumble of the Kings Qualification 2009 Malmö , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:50 ,

Malmö Malmö is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, third-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg, and the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, sixth-largest city in Nordic countries, the Nordic region. Located on ...

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 1-0 , Arturas Liutika , TKO (punches) , World Freefight Challenge 8 "D-Day" , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:35 ,

Ljubljana {{Infobox settlement , name = Ljubljana , official_name = , settlement_type = Capital city , image_skyline = {{multiple image , border = infobox , perrow = 1/2/2/1 , total_widt ...

, Slovenia ,

References

External links

*
Vallentuna Boxing CampProfile
at K-1 {{DEFAULTSORT:Kruth, Jorgen 1974 births Living people Swedish male kickboxers Cruiserweight kickboxers Heavyweight kickboxers Swedish male mixed martial artists Heavyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai Mixed martial artists utilizing savate Mixed martial artists utilizing judo Mixed martial artists utilizing jujutsu Swedish male boxers Heavyweight boxers Swedish male Muay Thai practitioners Swedish male judoka Swedish savateurs Swedish Jujutsuka Martial artists from Stockholm Swedish sportspeople in doping cases 20th-century Swedish sportsmen 21st-century Swedish sportsmen