Superkombat Fighting Championship

The Superkombat Fighting Championship stylized as SUPERKOMBAT or SK, was a Romanian kickboxing and mixed martial arts promotion based in Bucharest, Romania.^[4] In 2011, Superkombat rose to prominence during the inactivity and financial turmoil of the Japanese organization K-1.^[5] The same year, the promotion was named best kickboxing promotion in the world, winning 2011 Promotion of the Year against other kickboxing powerhouses Glory and It's Showtime.^[6] The organization was considered the largest kickboxing promotion in Europe and featured some of the highest-level fighters in the sport on its roster.^[4][7][8] Superkombat co-promoted some events with K-1, such as K-1 Heavyweight Finals,^[9][10] and had partnership agreement with the World Kickboxing Network and WAKO for event sanctioning.^[11]

Superkombat founder Eduard Irimia, became one of the most influential figures in global kickboxing after the decline of Japan's K-1. Starting from modest beginnings, he built Local Kombat into a national sensation in Romania, eventually creating Superkombat and gaining attention from Eurosport and international audiences.^[5] In 2011, the Supekombat Fighting Championship and Eurosport announced a three-year broadcast deal. The contract was extended in early 2014, ultimately lasting till the end of 2016.^[1] Fight Now TV was the exclusive broadcaster in the United States. The partnership started with Superkombat World Grand Prix III 2013.^[12] On December 14, 2016, the promotion announced a one-year broadcast deal with CBS Sports through the CBS Sports Network subsidiary. The deal included six events for 2017.^[13] The broadcast deal was renewed through 2018.^[14] In Brazil, Superkombat events were broadcast on Combate Channel from Globosat.^[2] FightBox aired Superkombat fights in over 40 countries around the world.^[3] The promotion was featured in the TV magazine program Eurosport Fight Club.^[15]

On August 10, 2012, SK entered in a co-promotion agreement with Japanesen-based kickboxing promotion K-1 was announced.^[16] Though the agreement would eventually end, SK president Eduard Irimia stated that while its company will be independent in 2013, it will still continue to have cooperation with any interested promotion, including K-1, by exchanging fighters.^[17] In November 2012, Superkombat announced that it would host a major mixed martial arts event in Bucharest, Romania. The competition was scheduled to take place on December 22 at the Polivalenta Hall and featured fighters from multiple countries. According to the organizers, the event was expected to attract a global audience and was part of Superkombat's strategy to expand its international presence.^[18]

In December 2013, the promotion donated all revenues from tickets sales for Superkombat World Grand Prix 2013 Final to flood victims in Galați County^[19] and in 2015 donated half of ticket sales for Superkombat World Grand Prix 2015 Final to Colectiv nightclub fire victims.^[20] The same year, Tarik Khbabez faced Roman Kryklia in the SUPERKOMBAT Heavyweight Grand Prix finals and won by decision.^[21][22] Superkombat champion Cătălin Moroșanu was scheduled to face Badr Hari at Global Fighting Championship Fight Series 4 in Dubai, but the figth never materialized.^[23] Khbabez faced Kryklia again in 2019 for the inaugural ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship. Going into the fight as a favorite, Khbabez lost by TKO in the second round.^[24]

In 2018, the promotion only held one event named SUPERKOMBAT Dream at the Magic Place in Bucharest, Romania.^[25][26]

List of athletes who competed in :

• World Independent Promoters Union
  • 2011 - Kickboxing Promotion of the Year (Runner ups GLORY and It's Showtime)^[6]

• GLORY
• Colosseum Tournament
• K-1
• It's Showtime
• ONE Championship

• Superkombat Fighting Championship on Facebook