Murat Direkçi

Murat Direkçi
Born	Murat Direkçi
Nationality	Turkish-Belgian
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Weight	179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb)
Style	Kick Boxing, Muay Thai
Team	Universal Gym
Kickboxing record
Total	22
Wins	17
By knockout	15
Losses	4
Draws	1
Other information
Occupation	Martial Arts Instructor
Notable students	Mesut Açıkyol, Kamal, Najat Hasnouni

Murat Direkçi (17 July 1979, Antwerp, Belgium) is a Turkish-Belgian middle-weight kick-boxer and instructor who lives in Belgian city Antwerp with his family. He trains at his own sports centre Universal Gym as he also teaches and promotes over 300 starlets such as Mesut Açıkyol.

Career

Direkçi started the martial arts at the age of 15. He is trained by Jan Gooyvaers with full of competitiveness up against other students in Belgium for 9 years. After that he changed his trainer, Jan Pasztjerik from the Netherlands since 2004.

Direkçi has switched his career on top martial arts organization K-1 in 2007 with a sparkling debut against former world champion Albert Kraus in K-1 World MAX 2007 Japan Tournament which he has knocked Kraus out in the first round. This victory caused him to extend his contract with K-1.

Personal life

Direkçi is the younger son of his family with three children, originally from northern Turkish city Ordu. He had a very sorrowful childhood. Her sister Nuray had passed away due to brain tumor when she was just 4 years-old. Following the primary school, Murat studied at a technical school to be an electrician. After a short while spelling at school, he realized that to be a doorman in a night club in Antwerp nights would be more attractive. He found a job that he desired and worked for 6 years in which he gain a lot fighting experience.

His elder brother Ercan took care of him while their father had a busy working schedule of two shitfs per day. Ercan also had a role behalf of their father as well as a friend, sparring mate. He also helped him for founding Murat's Gym. Unfortunately, Ercan had passed away in 2004 in a traffic accident when he was 29.

K-1 Records

The K-1 bout verdicts of Direkçi according to the official K-1 website:

3 Wins (3 (T)KO's, 0 Decisions), 0 Losses
Date	Result	Opponent	Event	Method	Round	Time
10/03/2008	Win	Sataruvashicoba	K-1 World MAX 2007 World Championship Final, Tokyo, Japan	K.O.	2	0:39
06/23/2007	Win	Joerie Mes	K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Holland	T.K.O.	1
02/05/2007	Win	Albert Kraus	K-1 World MAX 2007 Japan Tournament, Tokyo, Japan	K.O.	1	1:27

Titles

• Kick-Boxing European Champion in 2003
• WFCA World Champion in 2004
• Belgium Champion (5 Times)

See also

• List of K-1 events
• List of male kickboxers
• Muay Thai
• List of kickboxing organizations

External links

• Universal GYM official Web page
• Direkci Profile on MMA Universe
• Direkci vs Tijarti
• K-1 World Max Japan Tournament Fight Card