Zhora Gevorgovich Akopyan

Zhora Akopyan is an Armenian Muay Thai kickboxer competing out of Belarus who has developed into one of the strongest names on the international circuit around 70 kg.

Profile

The story

Akopyan was born in Akhalkalaki, Georgia, into an Armenian family and moved with his family to Polotsk, Belarus, at the age of five. Under the guidance of Andrei Gridin at Gridin Gym in Minsk, he developed into a successful amateur and professional fighter, winning world and European youth titles in Muay Thai. At the 2025 K-1 WORLD MAX tournament, he reached the semifinals with a first-round knockout. An injury then forced him to withdraw from his announced bout against Jonas Salsicha. In 2026, a new meeting between the two fighters was announced as part of the Final 16.

In the ring

Fighting style

A technically skilled Muay Thai kickboxer from an orthodox stance, with a broad foundation in kicking combinations and clinch work, complemented by more direct attack lines from Western kickboxing.

Results

Performance

Gold at the IFMA Junior World Championship (2014); two-time Belarusian youth Muay Thai champion; Tatneft Cup lightweight champion (2019); FEA WORLD GP lightweight world champion (2019); Fair Fight welterweight champion (2021); MFC lightweight champion (2022); professional record of 34 wins, including 11 by KO or TKO, against 6 losses; 2025 K-1 WORLD MAX tournament semifinalist.

Over the years

Timeline

2013: professional debut.
2014: junior world champion at the IFMA Junior World Championship.
2015: moves to Minsk to focus fully on his professional career.
2019: wins titles at the Tatneft Cup and the FEA WORLD GP.
2021 and 2022: title streak at Fair Fight and MFC.
2024: competes in the K-1 WORLD MAX Final 8 against Kacper Muszyński.
November 15, 2025: wins his quarterfinal by knockout in the first round and withdraws from the semifinal due to injury.
2026: is matched with Jonas Salsicha in the K-1 WORLD MAX Final 16.

Influence

Legacy

Akopyan is regarded as one of the most dangerous still-uncrowned names around 70 kg. His development within the Armenian community in White-Russia gives him a distinctive place in international combat sports.