Karim Ghajji Scores Huge Tournament Win, Beats Lidon and Aikpracha

Saturday, 02 February 2013 19:55

Written by Rian Scalia

Nuit des Titans put on another big show in France today, which saw a four man tournament at 72.5kg, as well as a number of super fights featuring the likes of Fabio Pinca, Dernchonlek, Super X and Aziz Hlali.

The tournament featured Aikpracha Meenayothin, Yury Bessmertny, Yohan Lidon and Karim Ghajji. Aikpracha faced Bessmertny in the semi finals and in the other semi, Lidon fought Karim Ghajji, in what was a rubbermatch between the two.

Aikpracha defeated Bessmertny, but he needed an extra round to get a decision win. Aikpracha won rounds one and three, but in the second round he got dropped and almost got finished. The extra round was all Aikpracha, however.

Karim Ghajji and Yohan Lidon had fought twice before, with each of them winning once. The two times they fought had been under K-1 rules, and with this one being Muay Thai, it looked like Lidon was the favorite. Ghajji scored a decision victory though, in what seems to have been a very close fight much like their first two encounters.

The final was where the real shock of the event was. Karim Ghajji knocked out Aikpracha in the first round with a combination of a high kick, straight left, knee and a huge right hand to end things. This is a huge win for Ghajji, who doesn't normally even fight Muay Thai. Aikpracha, despite having fought a week ago, was the sure favorite to win the tournament. For Ghajji, this tournament win gives him a ton of momentum as he'll debut in GLORY in April in a big fight that will probably be announced soon.

Also on the card were some super fights. Fabio Pinca defeated his Thai adversary, Yakdam by decision. Apparently Pinca had a tough time with Yakdam's awkward style but still managed to get the win. Super X stopped Aziz Hlali in the first round, but the word is that it was a terrible stoppage and Hlali protested after. Dernchonlek Sor. Sor. Niyom cruised to a decision over Issam Reghi.

72.5kg semi final: Karim Ghajji def. Yohan Lidon by decision.

72.5kg semi final: Aikpracha Meenayothin def. Yury Bessmertny by decision in an extra round.

72.5kg final: Karim Ghajji def. Aikpracha Meenayothin by KO in Round 1.

68kg: Fabio Pinca def. Yakdam by decision.

68kg: Super X def. Aziz Hlali by TKO in Round 1.

73kg: Dernchonlek Sor. Sor. Niyom def. Issam Reghi by decision.

70kg: Aslan Oustarkhanov def. Mohamed Abdellaoui by KO in Round 1.

71kg: Yazid Bussaha def. Mahfoud Nafi by TKO in Round 3.

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