Donegi Abena
Surinamese-Dutch kickboxer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Donegi Abena (born February 23, 1998) is a Surinamese-Dutch kickboxer who competed in the Light Heavyweight division of Glory, where he is the former Glory Light Heavyweight champion.[3]
Paramaribo, Suriname
| Donegi Abena | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 23, 1998 Paramaribo, Suriname |
| Other names | Silverback |
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 3+1⁄2 in)[1] |
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb; 15.0 st)[2] |
| Division | Light Heavyweight |
| Style | Kickboxing |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Team | SB Gym Mike's Gym (former) |
| Trainer | Said El Badaoui |
| Years active | 2015–2024 |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 42 |
| Wins | 31 |
| By knockout | 11 |
| Losses | 11 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Website | https://donegiabena.com/ |
As of 1 June 2024, Abena is ranked the #1 light-heavyweight in the world by GLORY.[4] He's been ranked in the Combat Press top ten since November 2018.[5]
Kickboxing career
Early career
Abena made his professional debut against Elmir Mehić at WFL: Bosnia on September 25, 2015. He won the bout by split decision.[6]
Abena was scheduled to face Jan Soukup at Večer Bojovníků Thajského Boxu VII on December 19, 2015. Soukup won the fight by unanimous decision.[7] He was afterwards scheduled to face Petr Romankevich in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Tatneft Cup.[8] He lost the fight by an extra round decision, thus entering the first losing streak of his career.
Abena snapped the losing streak with a first-round knockout of Maurice Jackson at FFC 25: Mitchell vs Lopez on June 10, 2016. Over the next six months, Abena would furthermore notch a knockout victory over Andrey Ohotnik on July 22, as well as decision victories against Dzhobir Tashmatov on August 23, and Andress van Engelen on November 5. This five-fight winning streak earned the a place in the 2016 WLF Super Heavyweight Tournament, held on December 3, 2016. He won the rematch with Petr Romankevich in the quarterfinals by decision, but lost to Jairzinho Rozenstruik by a first-round knockout in the finals.[9]
Abena was scheduled to fight Fabien Fouquet at FFC 29 on April 22, 2017. Abena won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[10]
A1 World Combat Cup
On May 13, 2017, Abena took part in the A1 WCC Heavyweight Qualification Tournament. He won the semifinal match against Wendell Roche and the final match against Brian Douwes in the same manner, by decision.[11]
Abena was scheduled to fight Clyde Brunswijk at Blood, Sweat and Tears on December 22, 2017. He won the fight by decision.[12]
On May 5, 2018, Abena participated in the 2018 A1WCC Champions League Tournament, with a €110 000.[13] Abena beat Luis Tavares by an extra round decision in the quarterfinal, Adnan Rezovic by decision in the semifinals and faced Mohamed Abdellah in the finals. Abdellah won the final bout by decision.[14]
Abena was scheduled to face Andrei Stoica at ACB KB 16 on July 13, 2018. He won the fight by decision.[15]
GLORY
Abena made his Glory debut against Stephane Susperregui at Glory 60: Lyon on October 20, 2018.[16] Abena won the fight by unanimous decision, with one of the judges scoring the bout 30–27 in his favor, while three of the judges scored it as 29-28 for Abena.[17]
Abena was scheduled to face the #4 ranked Glory light heavyweight Michael Duut at Glory 64: Strasbourg on March 9, 2019.[18] Abena won the fight by split decision, with three judges scoring the bout in his favor (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) and two judges scoring the bout in Duut's favor (30–27, 29–28).[19]
His two victories with the promotion left Abena as the top-ranked contender, earning him the right to challenge the reigning Glory Light Heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov at Glory 66: Paris on June 22, 2019.[20] Vakhitov won the fight by a split decision, with four of the judges scoring the fight for him (49–46, 49–46, 48–47, 48–47), while the last judge scored the bout 48-47 for Abena.[21]
Abena was scheduled to face the reigning GLORY Middleweight champion Alex Pereira for the interim Glory Light Heavyweight Championship at Glory 68: Miami on September 28, 2019.[22] Pereira won the fight by a third-round knockout, landing a left hook in the last minute of the round.[23]
Abena returned from a 14-month layoff to face Luis Tavares at Glory 77: Rotterdam on January 30, 2021.[24] Tavares won the fight by unanimous decision.[25] Abena was scheduled to face Sergej Maslobojev at Glory: Collision 3 on October 23, 2021, in his second fight of the year.[26] He lost the closely contested fight by split decision.[27]
Abena faced the #2 ranked Glory light heavyweight contender Felipe Micheletti at Glory: Collision 4 on October 8, 2022.[28] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[29]
Glory Light Heavyweight champion
Abena challenged Sergej Maslobojev for the Glory Light Heavyweight Championship at Glory 83 on February 11, 2023.[30] He won the fight by a fourth-round technical knockout. The fight was stopped by the ringside physician due to a cut on Maslobojev's shin.[31]
Abena was expected to make his first title defense against the one-time ONE Kickboxing Light Heavyweight Championship and Glory Light Heavyweight Championship title challenger Tarik Khbabez at Glory: Collision 5 on June 17, 2023.[32] Abena withdrew from the fight with food poisoning on June 14.[33] The fight was rescheduled to take place at Glory: Collision 6 on November 4, 2023.[34] Khbabez withdrew from the fight with a hand injury on October 31, and was replaced by Mohamed Touchassie.[35] Abena retained the title by unanimous decision.[36]
Abena made his second Glory Light Heavyweight championship defense against Tarik Khbabez at Glory Heavyweight Grand Prix on March 9, 2024.[37] He lost the fight by split decision.[38]
Abena faced Ștefan Lătescu in the quarterfinals of the Glory Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, held on June 8, 2024, in Rotterdam, Netherlands.[39] He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout, as he stopped Lătescu with low kicks 59 seconds into the third round.[40] Abena likewise stopped Tarik Khbabez with low kicks in the semifinals,[41] which earned him a place in the tournament finals opposite Bahram Rajabzadeh. Abena captured the tournament title, as well as the $100,00 prize, by a first-round stoppage.[42]
Abena vs. Khababez 3
in October 2024, it was confirmed that Abena will face Tarik Khababez for the third and final time at Glory: Collision 7 on December 7 for the Glory Light Heavyweight Title. Abena lost the fight by Split decision when all of the judges scored the fight 49-47, one for Abena but the rest for Khababez. After the fight in the interview, Abena announced his retirement, he later said he discussed with Glory and was no longer retiring.[43]
Mixed martial arts career
Professional boxing career
On June 14, 2025, Abena announced that he signed a long-term promotional deal with Queensberry Promotions.[46]
Titles and accomplishments
- GLORY
- 2023 Glory Light Heavyweight Championship
- One successful title defense
- 2024 Glory Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Winner
- 2024 Fight of the Year (vs. Tarik Khbabez at Glory Collision 7[broken anchor])
- 2023 Glory Light Heavyweight Championship
Kickboxing record
| 31 Wins (11 (T)KO's), 11 losses, 0 draw | ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-05 | Win |  Tarik Cherkaoui | World Fighting League | The Hague, Netherlands | TKO (3 Knockdowns) | 1 | ||
| 2024-12-07 | Loss | Tarik Khbabez | Glory Collision 7 | Arnhem, Netherlands | Decision (Split) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| For the Glory Light Heavyweight Championship. | ||||||||
| 2024-06-08 | Win |  Bahram Rajabzadeh | Glory Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, Final | Rotterdam, Netherlands | TKO (Referee stop./punches) | 1 | 2:43 | |
| Wins the 2024 Glory Light Heavyweight Grand Prix. | ||||||||
| 2024-06-08 | Win | Tarik Khbabez | Glory Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, Semifinals | Rotterdam, Netherlands | KO (Low kick) | 2 | 0:30 | |
| 2024-06-08 | Win |  Ștefan Lătescu | Glory Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, Quarterfinals | Rotterdam, Netherlands | TKO (Low kicks) | 3 | 0:59 | |
| 2024-03-09 | Loss | Tarik Khbabez | Glory Heavyweight Grand Prix | Arnhem, Netherlands | Decision (Split) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Loses the Glory Light Heavyweight Championship. | ||||||||
| 2023-11-04 | Win | Mohamed Touchassie | Glory: Collision 6 | Arnhem, Netherlands | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Defends the Glory Light Heavyweight Championship. | ||||||||
| 2023-02-11 | Win |  Sergej Maslobojev | Glory 83 | Essen, Germany | TKO (Doctor stoppage) | 4 | 2:15 | |
| Wins the Glory Light Heavyweight Championship. | ||||||||
| 2022-10-08 | Win |  Felipe Micheletti | Glory: Collision 4 | Arnhem, Netherlands | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2021-10-23 | Loss | Sergej Maslobojev | Glory: Collision 3 | Arnhem, Netherlands | Decision (Split) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2021-01-30 | Loss |  Luis Tavares | Glory 77: Rotterdam | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2019-09-28 | Loss | Alex Pereira | Glory 68: Miami | Miami, United States | KO (Left Hook) | 3 | 2:08 | |
| For the interim Glory Light Heavyweight Championship | ||||||||
| 2019-06-22 | Loss |  Artem Vakhitov | Glory 66: Paris | Paris, France | Decision (Split) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| For the Glory Light Heavyweight Championship. | ||||||||
| 2019-03-09 | Win | Michael Duut | Glory 64: Strasbourg | Strasbourg, France | Decision (split) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2018-10-20 | Win |  Stephane Susperregui | Glory 60: Lyon | Lyon, France | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2018-07-13 | Win | Andrei Stoica | ACB KB 16 | Târgoviște, Romania | Decision (Split) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2018-05-05 | Loss |  Mohamed Abdallah | A1WCC Champions League, Final | Hasselt, Belgium | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| For the A1WCC Champions League Tournament. | ||||||||
| 2018-05-05 | Win |  Adnan Rezovic | A1WCC Champions League, Semi Final | Hasselt, Belgium | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2018-05-05 | Win |  Luis Tavares | A1WCC Champions League, Quarter Final | Hasselt, Belgium | Ext R. Decision (Unanimous) | 4 | 3:00 | |
| 2017-12-22 | Win |  Clyde Brunswijk | Blood, Sweat and Tears | Paramaribo, Suriname | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2017-05-13 | Win | Brian Douwes | A1 World Combat Cup, Final | Eindhoven, Netherlands | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Wins A1 WCC Heavyweight Qualification Tournament Title. | ||||||||
| 2017-05-13 | Win |  Wendell Roche | A1 World Combat Cup, Semi Finals | Eindhoven, Netherlands | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2017-04-22 | Win | Fabien Fouquet | FFC 29 | Ljubljana, Slovenia | TKO (Liver Shot) | 1 | 2:35 | |
| 2016-12-03 | Loss | Jairzinho Rozenstruik | Wu Lin Feng 2016: WLF x Krush - China vs Japan | Zhengzhou, China | KO | 1 | ||
| For The WLF Super Heavyweight Tournament. | ||||||||
| 2016-12-03 | Win |  Petr Romankevich | Wu Lin Feng 2016: WLF x Krush - China vs Japan | Zhengzhou, China | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2016-11-05 | Win | Andress van Engelen | A1 World Combat Cup | Germany | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2016-08-23 | Win |  Dzhobir Tashmatov | Akhmat Fight Show | Grozny, Russia | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2016-07-22 | Win |  Andrey Ohotnik | Tatneft Cup 2016 - 1st selection 1/4 final | Kazan, Russia | KO | 2 | ||
| 2016-06-10 | Win |  Maurice Jackson | FFC 25: Mitchell vs Lopez | Springfield, Massachusetts, USA | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:10 | |
| 2016-03-06 | Loss | Petr Romankevich | Tatneft Cup 2016 - 2nd selection 1/8 final | Kazan, Russia | Decision | 4 | 3:00 | |
| 2015-12-19 | Loss |  Jan Soukup | Večer Bojovníků Thajského Boxu VII. | Liberec, Czech Republic | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2015-09-25 | Win | Elmir Mehić | WFL: Bosnia | Laktaši, Bosnia and Herzegovina | Decision (Split) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-02-08 | Win | Mohammed Balli | Muay Thai Centre Clyde van Dams | Netherlands | Decision | 3 | 1:30 | |
| 2014-12-14 | Win | Mohamed Gabri | Maxifit/Mejiro Wormer gala | Netherlands | Decision | 3 | 1:30 | |
| 2014-10-18 | Win | Marwin Gietmann | MTBG Ruble Event 15 | Netherlands | Decision | 3 | 1:30 | |
| 2014-10-05 | Win | Fabio Brent | Go Hard Or Go Home 7 | Tilburg, Netherlands | Decision | 3 | 1:30 | |
| N Class. | ||||||||
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||