Vitaly Hurkou (Belarusian: Вiталь Рыгоравiч Гуркоў; born March 27, 1985), is a Belarusian welterweight Muay Thai kickboxer fighting out of Minsk for Patriot Gym. He is a seven time amateur Muay Thai world champion and is the K-1 World MAX 2010 East Europe champion currently competing in Kunlun Fight.[1] He is also the singer of the rock band Brutto.

Vitaly Gurkov
Gurkov at THAI FIGHT 2012 final
BornВiталiй Рыгоравiч Гуркоў
(1985-03-27) March 27, 1985 (age 39)
Native nameВiталiй Гуркоў
NationalityBelarus Belarusian
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb; 11 st 0 lb)
DivisionWelterweight
StyleMuay Thai
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofMinsk, Belarus
TeamPatriot Gym
Years active2000–present
Kickboxing record
Total115
Wins100
Losses15
Last updated on: March 8, 2014

Amateur career

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Vitaly has been a prominent member of the Belarusian Muay Thai national team. He won his first international tournament in his teens, winning gold at the 2001 I.F.M.A. European Championships. He followed this up two years later aged just 17 by winning a gold medal in the 61 kg category at the 2003 I.A.M.T.F. World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. Between 2004 and 2008 Vitaly would win four gold medals at the W.M.F. world championships (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) along with a gold medal at the 2004 W.K.P.F. World Championships and gold at the 2006 W.A.K.O. European Championships.

In 2008 Vitaly entered the 4th Busan TAFISA World Games in Busan, South Korea which was holding the 2008 I.F.M.A. World Championship. He made the final but had to make do with silver – losing his final match to the Ukrainian Petr Nakonechnyi. He returned with a vengeance the following year winning the 2009 I.F.M.A. European Championship and the 2009 I.F.M.A. World Championship. At the world championship Vitaly defeated Marcus Öberg in the quarter-finals before gaining his revenge on Nakonechnyi in the semi-finals en route to winning gold. At the I.F.M.A. world championships in 2010, Vitaly made it through to the final but lost in the gold medal match, although he would win gold earlier on in the year at the I.F.M.A. European Championships in Italy. So far in his amateur career he has nine medals at World championships (seven gold, two silver) and three golds at European championships from 61 kg through to his current weight of 71 kg.

On July 30, 2017 Gurkov became the first 75 kg Muay Thai Gold-medalistat The World Games 2017 in Wroclaw, Poland.[2]

Professional career

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Against Buakaw Por.Pramuk at THAI FIGHT 2012 final

As a result of his successful amateur career, Gurkov has increasingly become involved in professional competitions. In 2007, he entered the W.M.C. Brute Force 8 Judgment Day - 72 kg tournament in Melbourne, Australia. Gurkov showed his amateur skills were not lost on the professional circuit, defeating Australian Greg Foley in the final to win the event. In 2008, he attempted to qualify for The Contender Asia Season 2 Muay Thai reality show in Chelyabinsk, Russia. He defeated amateur rival Petr Nakonechnyi in the semi-finals but lost to reigning 75 kg I.M.F.A. World Champion Artem Levin by TKO in the final. In 2009, he had more disappointment, losing in the final of the Tatneft Cup - 70 kg category.

In 2010, Gurkov made his mark on the professional circuit at the K-1 World MAX 2010 East Europe Tournament on March 19 in Minsk, Belarus. He defeated his first two opponents by decision before facing Zamin Guseynov from Azerbaijan in the final. After three rounds, Gurkov was crowned K-1 World MAX 2010 East Europe champion, defeating his opponent by unanimous decision. This victory meant that Gurkov qualified for kickboxing’s most prestigious competition at the forthcoming K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16. At the event, Gurkov was given the toughest draw, having to face reigning K-1 champion Giorgio Petrosyan in Seoul. After three rounds, Vitaly failed to cause an upset, his K-1 MAX dream finished by a unanimous decision defeat. A few weeks later, he was knocked out of another high-profile tournament, losing to Petchmankong Petchfocus in the second round of the Izuzu Thai Fight Muay Thai competition.

He beat Fares Bechar via decision in the quarter-finals of the 2012 Thai Fight 70 kg Tournament at Thai Fight 2012: King of Muay Thai in Bangkok, Thailand on October 23, 2012.[3][4][5]

He then beat Antero Hynynen in the tournament semi-finals in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand on November 25, 2012.[6][7]

He lost to Buakaw Banchamek in the final on December 16, 2012.[8][9]

He defeated Kem Sitsongpeenong by decision to win the WBC Muaythai World Super Welterweight (-69.8 kg/154 lb) Championship at Ring Wars in Milan, Italy on January 25, 2014.[10]

He was expected fight Tony Hervey at Kickboxing Empire II in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on March 8, 2014, but Hervey was replaced with Jaseem Al Djilwi. Gurkov won by TKO in round three after barraging Al Djiwali with a knee to the body and subsequent unanswered follow-up punches in round three.[11][12]

In 2017 Gurkov joined Banchamek Gym and had his first fight representing the camp at Kunlun Fight 62. He defeated Nurla Mulali of China by decision on June 10, 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand.[13]

On November 5, 2017 Gurkov won eight-man 75 kg tournament at Kunlun Fight 66 in Wuhan, China, defeating Chinese Nurla Mulali, Thai Arthit Hanchana, and Iranian Hossein Karami.[14]

On July 27, 2019 Gurkov won the 75 kg tournament in Beijing, China to become the first athlete in the promotion to win the belt twice.[15]

Titles and accomplishments

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Professional

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Amateur

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  • World Games
  • International Federation of Muaythai Associations
    • 2014 I.F.M.A. European Championships in Kraków, Poland   -75 kg
    • 2013 I.F.M.A. European Championships in Lisbon, Portugal   -71 kg
    • 2012 I.F.M.A. World Championships in Saint Petersburg, Russia   -71 kg
    • 2012 I.F.M.A. European Championships in Antalya, Turkey   -71 kg
    • 2011 I.F.M.A. World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan   -71 kg
    • 2010 I.F.M.A. World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand   -71 kg
    • 2010 I.F.M.A. European Championships in Velletri, Italy   -71 kg
    • 2009 I.F.M.A. World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand   -71 kg
    • 2009 I.F.M.A. European Championships in Liepāja, Latvia   -71 kg
    • 2008 I.F.M.A. World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand   -71 kg
    • 2001 I.F.M.A. European Championships  
  • World Muaythai Federation
    • 2007 W.M.F. World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand   -71 kg
    • 2006 W.M.F. World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand   -67 kg
    • 2005 W.M.F. World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand  
    • 2004 W.M.F. World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand  
  • World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
  • 2004 W.K.P.F. World Championships  
  • 2003 I.A.M.T.F. World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand   -61 kg

Fight record

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Kickboxing Record
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2019-07-27 Win   Saiyok Pumpanmuang Kunlun Fight 81 75kg World Tournament (Finals ) Beijing, China Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Wins the Kunlun Fight 75kg Tournament .
2019-07-27 Win   Wu Sihan Kunlun Fight 81 75kg World Tournament (1/2 Finals ) Beijing, China KO (Body Punch) 2 3:00
2019-07-27 Win   Yiliyasi Kunlun Fight 81 75kg World Tournament (1/4 Finals ) Beijing, China Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2018-10-22 Loss   Mergen Bilyalov kunlun Fight 78 75 kg Tournament, Semi-finals China TKO (Right Hook to the Body) 1 1:08
2018-10-22 Win   Tan Xiaofeng Kunlun Fight 78 75 kg Tournament, Quarter-finals China TKO
2018-08-05 Loss   Jonatan Oliveira ACB KB-17 Russia TKO (Referee Stoppage/Right Cross) 2 0:33
2018-02-03 Loss   Zhang Yang kunlun Fight 69 China Extra Round Decision 4 3:00
2017-11-05 Win   Hossein Karami Kunlun Fight 66 75 kg Championship Final China Decision 3 3:00
Wins the Kunlun Fight 75kg Tournament .
2017-11-05 Win   Arthit Hanchana Kunlun Fight 66 75 kg Championship Final 4 China TKO
2017-11-05 Win   Nurla Mulali Kunlun Fight 66 75 kg Championship Final 8 China Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2017-06-10 Win   Nurla Mulali Kunlun Fight 62 Bangkok, Thailand Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2016-12-11 Win   Mergen Bilyalov PFC Silk Road Hero 2016 Chongqing, China Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2014-03-08 Win   Jaseem Al Djilwi Kickboxing Empire II Las Vegas, Nevada, USA TKO (right knee to the body and punches) 3 2:06
2014-01-25 Win   Kem Sitsongpeenong Ring Wars Milan, Italy Decision 5 3:00
Wins the WBC Muaythai World Super Welterweight (-69.8 kg/154 lb) Championship.
2012-12-16 Loss   Buakaw Banchamek THAI FIGHT 2012: Finals, 70 kg Tournament Final Thailand Decision 3 3:00
2012-11-25 Win   Antero Hynynen THAI FIGHT 2012: 2nd round, 70 kg Tournament Semi-finals Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
2012-10-23 Win   Fares Bechar THAI FIGHT 2012: 1st round, 70 kg Tournament Quarter-finals Bangkok, Thailand Decision 3 3:00
2012-06-28 Loss   Shamil Abdulmedzhidov Dictator FC Moscow, Russia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2010-10-25 Loss   Petchmankong Petchfocus THAI FIGHT Final 8 Bangkok, Thailand Decision 3 3:00
Fails to qualify for THAI FIGHT Final 4.
2010-10-03 Loss   Giorgio Petrosyan K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16 - Part 2 Seoul, South Korea Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Fails to qualify for K-1 World MAX 2010 Final.
2010-08-29 Win   Jong Hyun Ko THAI FIGHT Final 16 Bangkok, Thailand TKO (Referee Stoppage) 3
Qualifies for THAI FIGHT Final 8.
2010-03-19 Win   Zamin Guseynov K-1 World MAX 2010 East Europe Tournament, Final Minsk, Belarus Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Wins K-1 World MAX 2010 East Europe Tournament and qualifies for K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16.
2010-03-19 Win   Enriko Gogokhia K-1 World MAX 2010 East Europe Tournament, Semi-finals Minsk, Belarus Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) 4 3:00
2010-03-19 Win   Lukasz Szul K-1 World MAX 2010 East Europe Tournament, Quarter-finals Minsk, Belarus Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2009-10-23 Loss   Uranbek Esenkulov Tatneft Cup 2009, Final Kazan, Russia Decision 6 3:00
Fight was for the Tatneft Cup 2009.
2009-09-16 Win   Armen Israelyan Tatneft Cup 2009, Semi-finals Kazan, Russia Decision 4 3:00
2009-05-26 Win   Vladimir Shakaya Tatneft Cup 2009 2nd Selection, Quarter-finals Kazan, Russia TKO (Knee to Body) 2
2009-02-19 Win   Andrey Khovrin Tatneft Cup 2009 4th Selection, 1st round Kazan, Russia Decision 4 3:00
2008-12-19 Loss   Artem Levin "The Contender Asia" Season 2 Russia Super 8 Qualifier, Final Chelyabinsk, Russia TKO (Cut) 1 3:00
Fails to qualify for "The Contender Asia" Season 2.
2008-12-19 Win   Petr Nakonechnyi "The Contender Asia" Season 2 Russia Super 8 Qualifier, Semi-finals Chelyabinsk, Russia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2008-12-19 Win   Mickael Piscitello "The Contender Asia" Season 2 Russia Super 8 Qualifier, Quarter-finals Chelyabinsk, Russia Decision 3 3:00
2007-03-25 Win   Greg Foley W.M.C. Brute Force 8 Judgement Day, Final Melbourne, Australia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Wins W.M.C. Brute Force 8 Judgement Day tournament -72 kg.
2007-03-25 Win   Jason Scerri W.M.C. Brute Force 8 Judgement Day, Semi-finals Melbourne, Australia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2007-03-25 Win   Marcin Olczak W.M.C. Brute Force 8 Judgement Day, Quarter-finals Melbourne, Australia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2006-12-02 Win   Jak Nakrantong Perth, Australia Decision 5 2:00
2006-07-26 Loss   Maxim Grechkin S-1 European Championships: Tsunami 2, semi final Kaliningrad, Russia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2006-07-26 Win   Dzhabar Askerov S-1 European Championships: Tsunami 2, quarter final Kaliningrad, Russia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2004-10-26 Win   Tagir Magomedov Russian Muaythai League event Moscow, Russia KO 4
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes
Amateur Kickboxing Record
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2017-07-29 Win   Vasyl Sorokin I.F.M.A. World Games 2017, Finals -75 kg Wroclaw, Poland Decision
Wins the I.F.M.A. World Games 2017 Gold Medal -75 kg.
2017-07-29 Win   Troy Jones I.F.M.A. World Games 2017, Semi-finals -75 kg Poland TKO 3
2017-07-28 Win   Diogo Calado I.F.M.A. World Games 2017, Quarter-finals -75 kg Poland Decision 3
2017-05-08 Loss   Diogo Calado 2017 IFMA World Championships, Quarter-final Minsk, Belarus Decision (29:28) 3
2016-05-29 Win   Ekkapan Somboonsab I.F.M.A. World Muaythai Championships 2016, Finals -75 kg Jönköping, Sweden Decision (Unanimous) 3 2:00
Wins the I.F.M.A. World Muaythai Championships Gold Medal -75 kg.
2014-09- Win   Vitali Nikiforov 2014 IFMA European Championships, Final Kraków, Poland Decision 3 3:00
Wins 2014 IFMA European Championship -75kg Gold Medal.
2014-09- Win   Vasily Semenov 2014 IFMA European Championships, Semi-finals Kraków, Poland Decision 3 3:00
2014-09- Win   Ismail Cevikbas 2014 IFMA European Championships, Quarter-finals Kraków, Poland Decision 3 3:00
2013-10-23 Loss   Zaynalabid Magomedov 2013 World Combat Games, Final Bangkok, Thailand Decision
Wins 2013 World Combat Games Muay Thai -71kg Silver Medal.
2013-10-21 Win   2013 World Combat Games, Semi-final Bangkok, Thailand Decision
2013-07- Win   Alim Nabiev 2013 IFMA European Championship, Final Lisbon, Portugal Decision 4 2:00
Wins 2013 IFMA European Championships -71kg Gold Medal.
2012-09- Loss   Zaynalabid Magomedov I.F.M.A. World Muaythai Championships 2012, Final Saint Petersburg, Russia Decision 4 2:00
Wins 2012 IFMA World Championships -71kg Silver Medal.
2012-09-11 Win   Kem Sitsongpeenong I.F.M.A. World Muaythai Championships 2012, Semi-finals Saint Petersburg, Russia Decision (Majority) 4 2:00
2012-09-10 Win   Enriko Gogokhia I.F.M.A. World Muaythai Championships 2012, Quarter-finals Saint Petersburg, Russia Decision
2012-05-23 Loss   Zaynalabid Magomedov 2012 IFMA European Championships, Final Antalya, Turkey Decision 4 2:00
Wins 2012 IFMA European Championships -71kg Silver Medal.
2011-09-27 Win   Konstantin Khuzin I.F.M.A. World Championships 2011, Final -71 kg Tashkent, Uzbekistan Decision 4 2:00
Wins 2011 I.F.M.A. World Muaythai Championships Gold Medal -71kg.
2011-09-25 Win   Enriko Gogokhia I.F.M.A. World Championships 2011, Semi finals -71 kg Tashkent, Uzbekistan Decision 4 2:00
2011-09-24 Win   Direk Thongnoon I.F.M.A. World Championships 2011, Quarter-finals -71 kg Tashkent, Uzbekistan Decision 4 2:00
2010-12-05 NC   Magomedov Zaynalabin I.F.M.A. World Championships 2010, Final -71 kg[17] Bangkok, Thailand No Contest
Wins 2010 I.F.M.A. World Championships Silver Medal -71kg.
2010-05-30 Win   Almaz Smagulov I.F.M.A. European Muaythai Championships 2010, Final -71 kg[18] Velletri, Italy
Wins 2010 I.F.M.A. European Muaythai Championships Gold Medal -71kg.
2010-05-29 Win   Ismail I.F.M.A. European Muaythai Championships 2010, Semi-final -71 kg Velletri, Italy
2010-05-28 Win   Viktor Zaman I.F.M.A. European Muaythai Championships 2010, Quarter-final -71 kg Velletri, Italy
2010-05-27 Win   Mathias Karlsson I.F.M.A. European Muaythai Championships 2010, 1st round -71 kg Velletri, Italy
2009-12-05 Win   Almas Smagulov I.F.M.A. World Championships 2009, Final -71 kg Bangkok, Thailand
Wins 2009 I.F.M.A. World Championships Gold Medal -71kg.
2009-12-? Win   Petr Nakonechnyi I.F.M.A. World Championships 2009, Semi-finals -71 kg Bangkok, Thailand Decision 4 2:00
2009-11-29 Win   Marcus Öberg I.F.M.A. World Championships 2009, Quarter-finals -71 kg Bangkok, Thailand Decision 4 2:00
2009-05-? Win   Konstantin Khuzin I.F.M.A. European Championships 2009, Final -71 kg Liepāja, Latvia
Wins 2009 I.F.M.A. European Championships Gold Medal -71kg.
2009-05-? Win   Viktor Zaman I.F.M.A. European Championships 2009, Semi-finals -71 kg Liepāja, Latvia
2009-05-? Win   Barnabas Szucs I.F.M.A. European Championships 2009, Quarter-finals -71 kg Liepāja, Latvia
2009-05-? Win   Almas Smagulov I.F.M.A. European Championships 2009, 1st round -71 kg Liepāja, Latvia
2008-10-02 Win   Petr Nakonechnyi 4th Busan TAFISA World Games, Final -71 kg Busan, Korea
Fight was for 2008 I.F.M.A. World Championship Gold Medal -71kg.
2008-09-30 Win   Nariman Satiyev 4th Busan TAFISA World Games, Semi-finals -71 kg Busan, Korea
2007-03-11 Win   Shane Campbell W.M.F. World Championships 2007, Final Bangkok, Thailand
Wins 2007 W.M.F. World Championships Gold Medal -71 kg.
2006-03-26 Win   Alexander Morev W.M.F. World Championships 2006, Final Bangkok, Thailand
Wins 2006 W.M.F. World Championships Gold Medal -67 kg.
2006-03-24 Win   Adem Bozkurt W.M.F. World Championships 2006, Semi-finals -67 kg Bangkok, Thailand
2006-11-26 Win   Nikolay Bubnov W.A.K.O. European Championships 2006, Thai-Boxing Final -67 kg Skopje, Macedonia Decision (Unanimous) 3 2:00
Wins 2006 W.A.K.O. Thai Boxing European Championships Gold Medal -67 kg.
2006-11-25 Win   Mikhail Mishin W.A.K.O. European Championships 2006, Thai-Boxing Semi-final -67 kg Skopje, Macedonia
2006-11-24 Win   Piotr Kobylanski W.A.K.O. European Championships 2006, Thai-Boxing Quarter-final -67 kg Skopje, Macedonia Decision (Unanimous) 3 2:00
2006-11-23 Win   Ramil Nadirov W.A.K.O. European Championships 2006, Thai-Boxing 1st round -67 kg Skopje, Macedonia Decision (Unanimous) 3 2:00
2003-03-12 Win   Nuno Neves I.A.M.T.F. 6th World Championships 2003, Final -61 kg Bangkok, Thailand
Wins 2003 I.A.M.T.F. World Championships Gold Medal -61 kg.
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Profile Vitaly Hurkou". K-1 Official Website. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  2. ^ "Triple muaythai gold for Ukraine brings Wrocław 2017 competition to a close". www.insidethegames.biz. 30 July 2017.
  3. ^ Buakaw Back At Thai Fight On October 23
  4. ^ Thai Fight Tournament Tomorrow: Buakaw vs. Mauro Serra
  5. ^ Thai Fight 2012 Live Results
  6. ^ Buakaw Back At Thai Fight Semi-finals Tomorrow
  7. ^ Thai Fight Results: Buakaw, Singmanee, Kulebin, Gurkov move on to finals
  8. ^ Fights To Watch In December: Part 2
  9. ^ Rian Scalia (16 December 2012). "Thai Fight Results: Buakaw, Singmanee Win Tournaments". LiverKick.com.
  10. ^ Vital Hurkou takes the second win over Kem Sitsongpinong
  11. ^ Weekend Results: Kickboxing Empire in Las Vegas
  12. ^ Vital Hurkou wins by TKO in Las Vegas (Video)
  13. ^ "Kunlun Fight 62 Results: Buakaw Tops Lingfeng Again, Kuliaba, Drai Win Qualifying Tournaments". Combat Press. 21 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Kunlun Fight 66 Results: Gurkov, Somai Capture One-Night Tournament Titles". Combat Press. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  15. ^ "Kunlun81: Gurkov & LingFeng Shine in Beijing". 4 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-12-04.
  16. ^ "Kunlun Fight 66 Results: Gurkov, Somai Capture One-Night Tournament Titles". Zach Aittama. 2017-11-05. Retrieved 2017-12-03.
  17. ^ "Official Results - IFMA Worldchampionships 2010". www.ifmamuaythai.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  18. ^ "EURO-IFMA 2010 MUAY THAI CHAMPIONSHIPS 25th - 30th MAY - ROME - ITALY (PDF)". www.euromuaythai.eu. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
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