King of Kings, or KOK, is a European
kickboxing
Kickboxing is a combat sports, combat sport focused on kicking and punch (strike), punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is pract ...
promotion
Promotion may refer to:
Marketing
* Promotion (marketing), one of the four marketing mix elements, comprising any type of marketing communication used to inform or persuade target audiences of the relative merits of a product, service, brand or i ...
founded in 2009. The company has its headquarters in
Vilnius
Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional urb ...
, Lithuania.
History
The promotion held its first event in Lithuania in 2009. The promotion has since held over 100 events in multiple countries including in Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Estonia, Russia, Germany and Cyprus. The promotion held its first event in Estonia in 2015. First event in Finland was held in 2019. In the past King of Kings also co-promoted events with
K-1. Events in Moldova were promoted with
FEA.
Name
Similarly to
K-1, the K's in the KOK name stand for Kickboxing, K-1, Karate, Kung-Fu, and other stand-up fight sports and martial arts. They also stand for “King” so “King of Kings” is meant as the best in the world.
Media coverage
KOK is broadcast on
FightBox
''FightBox'' is a game show that aired on BBC Three from 13 October to 10 November 2003 and is hosted by Lisa Snowdon and Trevor Nelson with Paul Dickenson as commentator.
Format
Contestants design their fighters and submit them to the BBC. Ou ...
,
DAZN
DAZN ( "da zone") is a global sports entertainment platform. Different to traditional linear and satellite broadcasting, DAZN is an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service meaning that it is delivered directly to viewers via the internet.
The ...
,
TV3 Sport
TV3 Sport is a Danish sports television channel, owned by Viaplay Group and operated by TV3 SPORT. The channel originally broadcast as TV 2 SPORT and was a joint-venture between TV 2 and Modern Times Group.
MTG launched a dedicated Danish version ...
, Prime Fight,
Eleven Sports
Eleven Sports is a multinational sports and entertainment media group. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, it is owned by Andrea Radrizzani's sports and media investment platform Aser Ventures.
Eleven Sports' business model initially centred a ...
and
Fight Network
Fight Network is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Anthem Sports & Entertainment. The network broadcasts programming related to combat sports, including mixed martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, and professional wre ...
.
In January 2022, a distribution partnership through United Fight Alliance on U.S. networks was announced.
A 3-year global broadcast deal with
DAZN
DAZN ( "da zone") is a global sports entertainment platform. Different to traditional linear and satellite broadcasting, DAZN is an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service meaning that it is delivered directly to viewers via the internet.
The ...
was announced 30 September 2022.
KOK was previously broadcast across Europe on
Eurosport
Eurosport is a group of pay television networks in Europe and parts of Asia. Owned by Warner Bros. Discovery through Warner Bros. Discovery Sports#Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe properties, its international sports unit, it operates two ...
in 2014 and 2015. Other past broadcasters include
BTV, Canal 3 and
TV6.
Rules
Fights in KOK are fought mostly under Kickboxing rules, but events also include fights under MMA and Boxing rules.
Events
Champions
Current champions
KOK Heavyweight Championship
''Weight limit: Unlimited''
KOK Light heavyweight Championship
''Weight limit: ''
KOK Middleweight Championship
''Weight limit: ''
KOK Welterweight Championship
''Weight limit: ''
KOK Lightweight Championship
''Weight limit: ''
KOK Featherweight Championship
''Weight limit: ''
KOK Bantamweight Championship
''Weight limit: ''
KOK Flyweight Championship
''Weight limit: ''
KOK Women's Bantamweight Championship
''Weight limit: ''
KOK Women's Strawweight Championship
''Weight limit: ''
Notable fighters
*
Artur Kyshenko
Artur Kyshenko ( Ukrainian: Артур Кишенко, born November 14, 1986) is a Ukrainian middleweight kickboxer, fighting out of Kyshenko Gym. He is the 2015 Kunlun Fight 80 kg Tournament World Champion and K-1 World MAX 2008 Finalist.
...
*
Constantin Țuțu
*
Daniel Forsberg
Daniel Forsberg (born 1 January 1992) is a Finnish Muay Thai kickboxer. He is the current KOK Middleweight Champion.
In July and August 2021, Combat Press ranks him as the #10 middleweight in the world.
Martial arts career
Forsberg was sche ...
*
Pavel Zhuravlev
*
Sergej Maslobojev
Sergej Maslobojev; born 22 May 1987), nicknamed 'Kuvalda' ('Sledgehammer'), is a Lithuanians, Lithuanian mixed martial artist, Boxer (boxing), boxer and kickboxer, currently signed with Glory (kickboxing), GLORY, where he is the former Glory (ki ...
* Masoud Minaei
See also
*
Lithuania Bushido Federation
Lithuania Bushido Federation ( lt, Lietuvos Bušido federacija), also known as Bushido Lithuania, is the largest combat sports promotion in Lithuania.
LBF was founded in 1999 with the name ''Lietuvos Bušido RINGS federacija'' as the Lithuanian ...
Notes
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:King of Kings
Kickboxing organizations
Sports organizations established in 2009
Kickboxing in Europe
Kickboxing in Lithuania
2009 establishments in Lithuania
Mixed martial arts organizations
Mixed martial arts in Europe
Sports organizations of Lithuania
Sport in the Baltic states
Lithuanian television shows
Professional boxing organizations
Companies based in Vilnius
Entertainment companies of Lithuania
Kickboxing television series
Recurring events established in 2009
Recurring sporting events established in 2009