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Wei Rui

Chinese Sanshou kickboxer (born 1989) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Wei Rui (simplified Chinese: 魏锐; traditional Chinese: 魏銳; pinyin: wèi ruì, born June 28, 1989) is a Chinese Sanda kickboxer who fights out of Da Dong Xiang fight club. On February 25, 2017, he won the K-1 World GP Lightweight Champions belt making him China's first K-1 World Champion.[1]

Quick Facts Born, Native name ...

As of September 2022, he is ranked the #3 featherweight and #7 pound-for-pound fighter in the world by Combat Press.[2] He was the 2020 Combat Press "Male Fighter of the Year".[3] As of April 17, 2024, he is ranked #1 in the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing rankings.[4]

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Background

Wei Rui was born on May 25, 1989, into a poor rural family as the youngest of eight siblings, with five sisters and two brothers in Luyi, Henan. The financial struggles of his family along with his disinterest in attending school led to him to pursue martial arts at the Luyi Shaolin Wenwu School. Here he trained and competed in Sanda for two years until he left the school to seek employment in order to support his family. With his martial arts background, Wei managed to get a job as a security guard when he moved to Beijing which he later quit after his dissatisfaction with the state of his career. This motivated him to travel to Liaoning and train at the Liaoyang Sports School to compete in Sanda once again. After winning a number of provincial championships he was invited back to the Luyi Shaolin Wenwu School in his home province to represent them in the 2010 and 2011 Shenzhen Sanda Boxing Association Championships winning both tournaments respectively. Wei's newfound success in Sanda led him to make the transition into competing internationally under kickboxing rules.[5]

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Career

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Early career

Rui made his debut on September 13, 2013, against Charlie at Wu Lin Feng. He won the fight by knockout, after just three seconds. He would win his next three fights, before suffering his first professional loss to Lerdsila Chumpairtour, at Kunlun Fight 2, by unanimous decision.[6]

He rebounded by winning his next five fights, before challenging Kaiwanlek Tor Laksong for the S1 Muaythai Super Lightweight International title. Kaiwanlek won by unanimous decision.[7]

Wu Lin Feng

After this loss, Rui participated in the 2014 Wu Lin Feng tournament, to determine the 63 kg International champion.[8] He beat Denis Puric by a second-round knockout in the semifinals, and Anson Chin by unanimous decision in the finals. Rui extended his winning streak to seven fights with knockout victories over DuoLra, Abdel Aziz Ennahachi and Josh Cunanan, as well as through decision victories over Yodsing Po.To.Oo.Pan hok and Casanova Lubo. He would then enter the 2015 WLF 63 kg Qualification tournament.[9] Rui won the tournament with unanimous decision victories against Mahdi Mahmoudvand and Bohdan Kopkin in the semifinals and finals respectively.[10]

After qualifying for the main tournament, Rui was scheduled to fight Chris Wells at the WLF New Zealand vs China event.[11] Rui won the fight by unanimous decision. A month later, he was scheduled to fight Buray Bozaryilmaz,[12] whom he beat by decision.[13] Rui fought in Las Vegas for the first time during the WLF and WCK Muaythai crossover event, being scheduled to face Kronphet Phetrachapat. He beat Kronphet by split decision.[14]

On December 5, 2015, Rui fought in the WLF World 63 kg Tournament. In the tournament semifinals, Rui defeated Pakorn PKSaenchaimuaythaigym by unanimous decision. Advancing to the finals, Rui faced Deng Zeqi. He beat Zeqi by a fourth-round TKO.[15]

K-1 title reign

Rui continued his undefeated streak over the course of the next year, winning eleven straight fights, most notably winning a decision against the future Glory Featherweight Champion Petpanomrung Kiatmuu9.[16] Rui then participated in the K-1 Lightweight Grand Prix, being scheduled to face Daizo Sasaki in the quarterfinals. He knocked out Sasaki, and won a unanimous decision against Cristian Spetcu in the semifinals. Advancing to the finals, he fought Ren Hiramoto, beating him by split decision.[17]

Rui defended the title four months later, with a majority decision win against Gonnapar Weerasakreck.[18]

On September 23, 2017, Rui fought Thanonchai Thanakorngym in the Glory of Heroes 63 kg tournament semifinals. He beat Thanonchai by unanimous decision.[19]

During the Glory of Heroes: China VS Spain event, Rui was scheduled to fight Jesus Romero for the Superlightweight Strikers League World title.[20] He beat Romero by unanimous decision.[21]

During Glory of Heroes: Guangzhou, Rui scored a 60 second knockout of Phosa Nopphorn.[22]

At K-1: K'FESTA.1, Rui was scheduled to make his second title defense, against the former K-1 Lightweight champion Koya Urabe. Urabe won the fight by knockout mid-way through the second round. It was the first knockout loss of Rui's career.[23]

Return to Wu Lin Feng

On July 7, 2018, Rui fought a rematch with Deng Zeqi in the Glory of Heroes 63 kg Tournament finals. He once again beat Zeqi by stoppage, knocking him out in the second round.[24] Three weeks later, Rui notched another knockout victory, stopping Sasa Jovanovic mid-way through the second round.[25] At Glory of Heroes 34, he won a unanimous decision against Vadim Zadnipryanyi.

After five more victories under the GoH banner, Rui returned to Wu Lin Feng. He was scheduled to fight Wang Pengfei in his promotional return. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[26] In his next three fights, Rui won decisions against Liu Xiangming,[27] Zhao Chuanlin[28] and Jia Aoqi.[29]

On October 18, 2020, Rui fought Jin Ying for the Wu Lin Feng King's Super Cup Title.[30] He beat Ying by unanimous decision.[31]

Two months later, Rui was scheduled to fight Thodkhui MR.Manas,[32] whom he beat by a second-round head kick knockout.[33] Rui extended his undefeated streak to 15 fights with a unanimous decision victory over Zheng Junfeng. Rui was then scheduled to fight Liu Wei at Wu Lin Feng 516.[34] Rui won the fight by an extra round decision.[35]

Rui was booked to face DFS Lightweight Champion Adrian Maxim at Wu Lin Feng 2023: Chinese New Year on February 4, 2023.[36] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[37] Rui next faced Hisaki Higashimoto at Wu Lin Feng 536: China vs Japan on April 22, 2023.[38] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[39]

ONE Championship

On March 13, 2024, it was announced that Rui signed with ONE Championship.[40]

Rui faced Hiroki Akimoto on May 4, 2024, at ONE Fight Night 22.[41] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[42]

Rui faced Jonathan Haggerty for the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship on February 20, 2025, at ONE 171.[43] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[44]

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Championships and awards

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Kickboxing

Ranking

  • N°3 Combat Press.com at Bantamweight, April, 2018[48]
  • N°5 Liver Kick.com at Featherweight, March 12, 2018[49]

Sanda

  • Shenzhen Sanda Boxing Association
    • 2011 Shenzhen Sanda Boxing Association International Tournament Champion[50]
    • 2010 Shenzhen Sanda Boxing Association International Tournament Champion[51]
  • Amateur Sanda
    • 2007 Liaoning Provincial Sanda Championship Gold -60 kg
    • 2008 National Youth Wushu Sanda Championship − 5th place

Accomplishments

  • Combatpress.com
    • 2017 Combat Press Kickboxing Awards: Breakout Fighter of the Year[52]
    • 2020 Combat Press Kickboxing Awards: Male Fighter of the Year[3]
  • eFight.jp
    • Fighter of the Month (February 2017)[53]

Fight record

More information Date, Result ...
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Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
1 match 0 wins 1 loss
By knockout 0 0
By submission 0 1
By decision 0 0
More information Res., Record ...

Mixed rules record

Professional record breakdown
1 match 0 wins 0 losses
By knockout 0 0
By submission 0 0
By decision 0 0
Draws 1
More information Res., Record ...
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External links

References

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