Superkombat Fighting Championship

SUPERKOMBAT

Sport	Kickboxing
Founded	2011
Founder	Eduard Irimia
Ceased	2021; 5 years ago (2021)
Country	Romania
Headquarters	Bucharest, Romania
Broadcasters	Eurosport[1] Combate Channel[2] FightBox[3] Fight Now TV CBS Sports
Official website	superkombat.com Archived 2015-05-06 at the Wayback Machine

The Superkombat Fighting Championship stylized as SUPERKOMBAT or SK, was a Romanian kickboxing and mixed martial arts promotion based in Bucharest, Romania.^[4] The organization was considered one of the world’s top kickboxing organizations^[5] and at one point the largest kickboxing promotion in Europe,^[6][7] featuring some of the highest-level fighters in the sport on its roster.

Superkombat rose to prominence during the decline of the Japanese kickboxing giant K-1 in 2011.^[8] The next year, the organization partnered with K-1, assisting with event production, European talent recruitment and co-promoted K-1's 2012 event series in USA, Greece and Japan such as the K-1 World Grand Prix.^[9][7] Superkombat had partnerships with the World Kickboxing Network and WAKO for event sanctioning.^[10] Superkombat founder Eduard Irimia was awarded the Promoter of the Year 2011 by WIPU (World Independent Promoters Union) winning over Its Showtime and United Glory, an award who had previously been given to boxing promoter Don King.^[11] In 2016, the promotion held the Superkombat World Grand Prix IV 2016 which drew a record-setting attendance of 34,000 spectators in Comănești, Romania.^[12] This set a new European audience record for kickboxing, surpassing the previous mark of 25,000 set at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Amsterdam.^[13][14]

Promoter Eduard Irimia built Local Kombat into a national sensation in Romania and in 2004 co-promoted in partnership with World Kickboxing Network, the first major world championship held on Romanian soil in kickboxing history.^[15][16] In 2009, Irimia made cover of the first issue of Forbes Romania magazine.^[17][18] Local Kombat eventually rebranded as Superkombat in 2011 and rose to global success during the decline of Japan's top kickboxing organization K-1 which catapulted Irimia to one of the most influential figures in kickboxing.^[8] Stephane Cabrera, President of the World Kickboxing Network stated that: "Kickboxing was completely unknown in Romania. Now their fighters are even more popular than football players. Eduard Irimia is now one of the biggest European promoters who makes a Superkombat show every month live on Eurosport, with a large and serious audience."^[16] Superkombat and Eurosport announced a three-year broadcast deal, and ultimately lasted until the end of 2016.^[1] Fight Now TV was the exclusive broadcaster in the United States and the partnership started with Superkombat World Grand Prix III 2013.^[19] On December 14, 2016, the promotion announced a one-year broadcast deal with CBS Sports, through its subsidiary CBS Sports Network, to air events in the United States.^[20] The deal included six events for 2017.^[21] 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.^[22] Bob Sapp and Alexandru Lungu won Special Fight of the Year for their match at Superkombat World Grand Prix IV 2011.^[23][24]

On August 10, 2012, SK entered in a co-promotion agreement with Japanese-based kickboxing promotion K-1 was announced.^[7] 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.^[25] 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.^[26]

In 2013, Superkombat expanded internationally through strategic support from Syrian-born entrepreneurs Basel and Khaled Fetrawi. Their involvement as official ambassadors contributed to the organization’s ability to host events in new markets such as Dubai and secure broader global broadcast distribution.^[27] The promotion donated all revenues from tickets sales for Superkombat World Grand Prix 2013 Final to flood victims in Galați County^[28] and in 2015 donated half of ticket sales for Superkombat World Grand Prix 2015 Final to Colectiv nightclub fire victims.^[29] The same year, Tarik Khbabez faced Roman Kryklia in the SUPERKOMBAT Heavyweight Grand Prix finals and won by decision.^[30][31] Superkombat champion Cătălin Moroșanu was scheduled to face Badr Hari at Global Fighting Championship Fight Series 4 in Dubai, but the fight never materialized.^[32] In 2018, the promotion only held one event named SUPERKOMBAT Dream at the Magic Place in Bucharest, Romania.^[33][34]

List of athletes who competed in :

#	Event	Date	Venue	Location	Attendance
059	Superkombat Dream	Mar 25, 2018	Magic Place Grant	Bucharest, Romania	—N/a
058	Superkombat New Heroes 11	Nov 24, 2017	Aqua Blue	Târgoviște, Romania	—N/a
057	Superkombat In the Cage	Oct 30, 2017	Lux Divina	Brașov, Romania	—N/a
056	Superkombat Expo	Sep 17, 2017	Romexpo	Bucharest, Romania	—N/a
055	Superkombat World Grand Prix III 2017	Aug 26, 2017	Shenzhen Arena	Shenzhen, China	—N/a
054	Superkombat Special Edition II China	Aug 12, 2017	Shenzhen Arena	Shenzhen, China	—N/a
053	Superkombat Special Edition China	Jul 29, 2017	Shenzhen Arena	Shenzhen, China	—N/a
052	[Superkombat World Grand Prix II 2017	May 6, 2017	Palacio Vistalegre	Madrid, Spain	6,000
051	Superkombat World Grand Prix I 2017	Apr 7, 2017	Romexpo Dome	Bucharest, Romania	—N/a
050	Superkombat New Heroes 10	Mar 12, 2017	Berăria H	Bucharest, Romania	—N/a
049	Superkombat World Grand Prix 2016 Final	Nov 12, 2016	Bucharest Arena	Bucharest, Romania	3,000
048	Superkombat World Grand Prix 2016 Final Elimination	Oct 1, 2016	Iași Arena	Iași, Romania	2,500
047	Superkombat World Grand Prix IV 2016	Aug 6, 2016	Galleon Hill	Comănești, Romania	34,000
046	Superkombat World Grand Prix III 2016	Jul 30, 2016	Tenis Club Idu	Mamaia, Romania	2,000
045	Superkombat New Heroes 9	Jun 25, 2016	Brașov Olympic Ice Rink	Brașov, Romania	—N/a
044	Superkombat World Grand Prix II 2016	May 7, 2016	Romexpo Pavilion	Bucharest, Romania	—N/a
043	Superkombat World Grand Prix I 2016	Mar 26, 2016	Roberto Clemente Coliseum	San Juan, Puerto Rico	—N/a
042	Superkombat Special Edition Italy	Dec 12, 2015	Pala Alpitour	Turin, Italy	5,000
041	Superkombat World Grand Prix 2015 Final	Nov 7, 2015	Dinamo Hall	Bucharest, Romania	—N/a
040	Superkombat World Grand Prix 2015 Final Elimination	Oct 2, 2015	Gran Teatro Linear4Ciak	Milan, Italy	3,000
039	Superkombat World Grand Prix IV 2015	Aug 1, 2015	Piațeta Cazino	Mamaia, Romania	5,000
038	Superkombat World Grand Prix III 2015	Jun 19, 2015	Constanța Arena	Constanța, Romania	2,500
037	Superkombat Special Edition Switzerland	Jun 13, 2015	Umweltarena	Zürich, Switzerland	—N/a
036	Superkombat World Grand Prix II 2015	May 23, 2015	Bucharest Arena	Bucharest, Romania	6,000
035	Superkombat World Grand Prix I 2015	Mar 7, 2015	Olimpia Hall	Ploiești, Romania	4,000
034	Superkombat World Grand Prix 2014 Final	Nov 22, 2014	PalaIper	Milan, Italy	6,000
033	Superkombat World Grand Prix 2014 Final Elimination	Oct 25, 2014	Geneva Arena	Geneva, Switzerland	4,000
032	Superkombat World Grand Prix IV 2014	Sep 27, 2014	Topsportcentrum	Amsterdam, Netherlands	3,000
031	Superkombat New Heroes 8	Aug 2, 2014	Constanța Arena	Constanța, Romania	—N/a
030	Superkombat World Grand Prix III 2014	Jun 21, 2014	Constanța Arena	Constanța, Romania	2,000
029	Superkombat World Grand Prix II 2014	May 24, 2014	Europa Entertainment Center	Mamaia, Romania	—N/a
028	Superkombat World Grand Prix I 2014	Apr 12, 2014	Reșița Arena	Reșița, Romania	2,000
027	Superkombat New Heroes 7	Mar 29, 2014	Olimpia Hall	Ploiești, Romania	—N/a
026	Superkombat World Grand Prix 2013 Final	Dec 21, 2013	Dunărea Ice Arena	Galați, Romania	5,000
025	Superkombat World Grand Prix 2013 Final Elimination	Nov 9, 2013	Olimpia Hall	Ploiești, Romania	2,500
024	Superkombat New Heroes 6	Nov 3, 2013	Carrarafiere Convention Center	Carrara, Italy	4,000
023	Superkombat World Grand Prix IV 2013	Oct 12, 2013	Chauncey Hardy Arena	Giurgiu, Romania	—N/a
022	Superkombat World Grand Prix III 2013	Sep 28, 2013	Elisabeta Lipă Arena	Botoșani, Romania	1,500
021	Superkombat VIP Edition	Aug 31, 2013	Sala Epika	Bucharest, Romania	—N/a
020	Superkombat New Heroes 5	Aug 30, 2013	Târgoviște Arena	Târgoviște, Romania	3,000
019	Superkombat New Heroes 4	May 31, 2013	Al Boom Tourist Village	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	—N/a
018	Superkombat World Grand Prix II 2013	May 18, 2013	Craiova Arena	Craiova, Romania	2,000
017	Superkombat New Heroes 3	May 10, 2013	Gasometer	Vienna, Austria	—N/a
016	Superkombat World Grand Prix I 2013	Apr 6, 2013	Antonio Alexe Arena	Oradea, Romania	2,500
015	Superkombat New Heroes 2	Mar 3, 2013	Ginásio Milton Feijão	São Paulo, Brazil	—N/a
014	Superkombat New Heroes 1	Feb 23, 2013	Hotel Kvarner	Rijeka, Croatia	—N/a
013	Superkombat World Grand Prix 2012 Final	Dec 22, 2012	Bucharest Arena	Bucharest, Romania	1,500
012	Superkombat World Grand Prix 2012 Final Elimination	Nov 10, 2012	Craiova Arena	Craiova, Romania	5,000
011	Superkombat World Grand Prix IV 2012	Oct 10, 2012	Galleria	Arad, Romania	1,500
010	Superkombat World Grand Prix III 2012	July 7, 2012	Kongresna Hall	Varna, Bulgaria	4,000
009	Superkombat World Grand Prix II 2012	May 12, 2012	Horia Demian Arena	Cluj-Napoca, Romania	3,000
008	Superkombat World Grand Prix I 2012	Feb 25, 2012	Morača Center	Podgorica, Montenegro	7,000
007	Superkombat World Grand Prix 2011 Final	Nov 19, 2011	Böllenfalltorhalle	Frankfurt, Germany	2,000
006	Superkombat Fight Club	Nov 17, 2011	Oradea Shopping City	Oradea, Romania	2,000
005	Superkombat World Grand Prix IV 2011	Oct 15, 2011	Piatra Neamț Arena	Piatra Neamț, Romania	4,000
004	Superkombat World Grand Prix III 2011	Oct 1, 2011	Danubius Arena	Brăila, Romania	—N/a
003	Superkombat World Grand Prix II 2011	Jul 16, 2011	Constanța Arena	Constanța, Romania	3,000
002	Superkombat World Grand Prix I 2011	May 21, 2011	Mihai Flamaropol Ice Arena	Bucharest, Romania	—N/a
001	Superkombat The Pilot Show	Mar 18, 2011	Traian Hall	Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania	2,000

In 2016, an article by MMA Plus reported that several European kickboxing promotions, including Superkombat, were accused of withholding payments from fighters.^[35] In October 2016, Superkombat publicly addressed claims of non‑payment from fighters, stating delays stemmed from contractual complexities involving third‑party promoters and agents, while reaffirming its intent to resolve all outstanding purses.^[36]

• World Independent Promoters Union (WIPU)
  • 2011 - Kickboxing Promoter of the Year (Runner ups GLORY and It's Showtime)^[11]

• GLORY
• It's Showtime
• K-1
• Dynamite Fighting Show
• Colosseum Tournament

• Superkombat Fighting Championship on Facebook