Sina Karimian
Iranian kickboxer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sina Karimian (born 23 January 1988) is an Iranian kickboxer. He competes in GLORY. He is the former K-1 Cruiserweight Champion.[1][2]
| Sina Karimian | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 January 1988 Isfahan, Iran |
| Native name | سینا کریمیان |
| Other names | Hero |
| Height | 200 cm (6 ft 6+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 104.4 kg (230 lb; 16.44 st) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Style | Kickboxing |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Team | WSR Tokyo (2018–2019) POWER OF DREAM (2019–present) |
| Trainer | Weerasakreck Wonpasser Seiichi Furukawa |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 21 |
| Wins | 15 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
Kickboxing career
Karimian participated in the 2018 K-1 WORLD GP Cruiserweight (−90 kg) Tournament. He beat OD.KEN in the quarter-finals with a fourth-round TKO. In the semi-finals he defeated K-Jee with a unanimous decision. He won a majority decision against Boubaker El Bakouri with a majority decision to become the inaugural K-1 Cruiserweight champion.[3][4][5]
He made his first title defence against Hisaki Kato during K-1 World GP 2019: K’FESTA 2.[6] Karimian won a unanimous decision.[7][8][9]
He made his second title defence in a rematch against Ryo Aitaka. Karimian won a unanimous decision.[10]
Karimian fought K-Jee on 3 November 2020 during K-1 WGP Japan.[11] He lost the fight by a first-round knockout.[12]
Sina was scheduled to fight Seiya Tanigawa at K'Festa 4, but the event was later postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] He was instead scheduled to fight K-Jee at K'Festa 4 Day 2 for the K-1 WORLD GP Cruiserweight title. Sina won the fight by a second-round knockout, after being knocked down twice in the first round.[14]
Karimian was scheduled to face the former K-1 heavyweight champion Kyotaro Fujimoto at K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri on 20 September 2021.[15] He won the fight by split decision, after an extra round was fought.[16]
Karimian faced Rikiya Yamashita at THE MATCH 2022 on 19 June 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[17]
Karimian faced Kosuke Jitsukata at K-1 World GP 2022 Yokohamatsuri on September 11, 2022. He won the fight by a first-round knockout.[18]
Karimian took part in the Glory 99 “Heavyweight Last Man Standing Tournament” where 32 heavyweight fighters competed on April 5, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.[19][20] He faced off against Tomáš Možný in the opening round, losing via unanimous decision.[21]
Mixed Martial Arts career
Karimian made his Mixed Martial Arts debut at RIZIN Landmark 11 in Sapporo in June of 2025, facing off against GRACHAN Heavyweight Champion, Hidetaka Arato. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[22]
Sina returned to MMA at K-1 World MAX 2025 - 70kg World Tournament Opening Round, facing Blake Troop in a Heavyweight bout. This marked the return of K-1's MMA brand, HEROs. This was the first time it has been utilized since December of 2007.[23] The bout ended in a No Contest, after an accidental eye poke rendered Troop unable to continue.[24]
Boxing career
Karimian would face former K-1 Super Lightweight kickboxing champion Ruyika Anpo in a 6-round scored exhibition boxing match at RIZIN 49. Karimian weighed in at 216 pounds, while Anpo weighed in at 178 pounds. Despite the 38 pound weight advantage, Karimian was thoroughly outboxed by Anpo. Karimian would accidentally hit the referee multiple times during a scuffle with Anpo, but the bout continued after a brief pause. Karimian would lose the bout via unanimous decision, failing to win a single round.[25]
Karimian would face former HEAT and ISKA Lightweight Kickboxing champion Kouzi in a 3-round exhibition boxing match at RIZIN: Otoko Matsuri. The bout was booked as a "punishment fight" after Kouzi was involved in a hit-and-run the previous December. He took the fight with Karimian as penance for his actions. After 3 rounds, the fight was declared a draw, due to it being an exhibition.[26]
Titles and accomplishments
Professional
- K-1
- 2018 K-1 World GP −90 kg Championship Tournament Winner[27]
- 2021 K-1 World GP −90 kg Championship
- Two successful defenses
- World Kickboxing Network
- 2017 WKN Oriental rules Super Cruiserweight (92.5kg) International Champion[28]
Amateur
Kickboxing record
| 16 Wins (8 (T)KO's), 5 Losses, 0 Draw, 2 No Contest | ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-05 | Loss |  Tomáš Možný | Glory 99 - Last Heavyweight Standing, Opening Round | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2024-12-14 | NC |  Daichi Kimura | K-1 World Grand Prix 2024 Final | Tokyo, Japan | Doctor stop. (Low blow) | 1 | ||
| 2024-10-05 | NC |  Claudio Istrate | K-1 World GP 2024 in Osaka | Osaka, Japan | Doctor stop. (hit to back of the head) | 1 | ||
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2024 Final Qualifier. Karimian unable to continue after a hit to the back of the head. Istrate was ahead on points at the time of the stoppage and qualified. | ||||||||
| 2024-03-20 | Loss |  Liu Ce | K-1 World MAX 2024 - World Tournament Opening Round | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Right hook) | 3 | 2:03 | |
| Loses the K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title. | ||||||||
| 2023-09-10 | Loss | Claudio Istrate | K-1 World GP 2023: ReBOOT～K-1 ReBIRTH～ World Grand Prix Semifinals | Yokohama, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2023-09-10 | Win |  Kerim Jemai | K-1 World GP 2023: ReBOOT～K-1 ReBIRTH～ World Grand Prix Quarterfinals | Yokohama, Japan | TKO (2 Knockdowns/Punches) | 3 | 1:35 | |
| 2022-12-03 | Win |  Carlos Budiao | K-1 World GP 2022 in Osaka | Osaka, Japan | DQ (Hit to the back of the head) | 2 | ||
| 2022-09-11 | Win | Kosuke Jitsukata | K-1 World GP 2022 Yokohamatsuri | Yokohama, Japan | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:21 | |
| 2022-06-19 | Win | Rikiya Yamashita | THE MATCH 2022 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2021-09-20 | Win | Kyotaro | K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri | Yokohama, Japan | Ext. R. Decision (Split) | 4 | 3:00 | |
| 2021-03-28 | Win | K-Jee | K'Festa 4 Day 2 | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Spinning back fist) | 2 | 0:26 | |
| Wins the K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title. | ||||||||
| 2020-11-03 | Loss | K-Jee | K-1 World GP 2020 in Fukuoka | Fukuoka, Japan | TKO (corner stoppage) | 1 | ||
| Loses the K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title. | ||||||||
| 2020-03-22 | Win | Ryo Aitaka | K-1: K’Festa 3 | Saitama, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Defends the K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title}. | ||||||||
| 2019-08-24 | Loss | Ryo Aitaka | K-1 World GP 2019: Japan vs World 5 vs 5 & Special Superfight in Osaka | Osaka, Japan | KO (Right overhand) | 3 | 2:08 | |
| 2019-03-10 | Win | Hisaki Kato | K-1 World GP 2019: K’FESTA 2 | Saitama, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Defends the K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title. | ||||||||
| 2018-09-24 | Win |  Boubaker El Bakouri | K-1 World GP 2018: inaugural Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, Final | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Wins the inaugural K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title. | ||||||||
| 2018-09-24 | Win | K-Jee | K-1 World GP 2018: inaugural Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, Semi-finals | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2018-09-24 | Win | OD.KEN | K-1 World GP 2018: inaugural Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, Quarter-finals | Tokyo, Japan | TKO (ref. stop) | 4 | 3:00 | |
| 2017-03-10 | Win | Neil Aquino | WKN Iran: World Cup 2017 | Teheran, Iran | KO | 2 | ||
| Wins the vacant WKN Oriental rules Super Cruiserweight International Title. | ||||||||
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-05-10 | Loss |  Jakub Klauda | 2017 IFMA World Championships, Semi-final | Minsk, Belarus | RSO | 2 | ||
| Wins 2017 IFMA World Championships -91kg Bronze Medal. | ||||||||
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||
Mixed martial arts record
| 2 matches | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC | 1–0 (1) | Blake Troop | NC (accidental eye poke) | K-1 World MAX 2025: 70kg World Tournament Opening Round | September 7, 2025 | 2 | 1:53 | Tokyo, Japan | Accidental eye poke rendered Troop unable to continue. |
| Win | 1–0 | Hidetaka Arato | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin Landmark 11 | June 14, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Sapporo, Japan | Heavyweight debut. |
Exhibition boxing record
| 2 fights | 0 wins | 1 loss |
|---|---|---|
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | N/a | 0–1 (1) | Kouzi | N/a | 3 | May 4, 2025 | Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan | Non-scored bout. Rizin Special standing bout rules |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Rukiya Anpo | UD | 6 | Dec 31, 2024 | Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan | Rizin Special standing bout rules. |