WGP 81

WGP Kickboxing returns to Brasília with three GPs on the same night in a historic edition

WGP Kickboxing is back in the federal capital. The 81st edition of the biggest event in the sport on the continent takes place on September 28 at the IESPLAN gym in Brasília. For the first time, the organization is holding three GPs on the same night, highlighted by the Challenger GP of the Super Middleweights (up to 78.1kg), which will determine the next challenger to champion Marcos Carvalho’s title, with fights between Iury Souza vs Cícero Evangelista and Lucas Rafael vs Rafael Sonak. The night also features two Qualifiers GPs, in the Super Lightweight (64.5kg) and Welterweight (71.8kg) categories. Among the Super Lightweights, the matchups are Julio Assunção vs Lucas Sorin and Dilvando Castro vs Bruno Santos. In the Welterweights, Mateus Machado faces Peruvian Renzo Torres, and Gabriel Mollotov takes on Argentine Enzo Vicente. The winners secure a spot in the future Challenger GP of their divisions. The event will be broadcast live on Combate Channel.

WGP 81 will once again be held in partnership with the Secretariat of Sports and Leisure of the Government of the Federal District. The agency has long been a major ally in encouraging and supporting martial arts and athletes in the state, and has been transforming the federal capital into Brazil's main fighting hub. Admission will be free, upon donation of 1kg of non-perishable food, which will be collected at the entrance and donated to a charity.

“We are very happy to return to Brasília, a city with a great tradition in martial arts and that has always welcomed us very well. It will be a historic night with three GPs, something unprecedented in WGP history. This shows how much the sport is growing and our commitment to discovering new talent and promoting great matchups”, highlights Paulinho Zorello, WGP president.

GP record: three tournaments on the same night is unprecedented in WGP

The highlight of the night will be the Challenger GP of the Super Middleweights, which guarantees the winner the spot of next challenger for the division title. The bracket features four of the division's best athletes. On one side, Iury Souza faces Cícero Evangelista in a clash of different styles, promising plenty of movement and intense striking. While Iury's mobility and technique are his strengths, along with good combinations, Cícero is a very aggressive athlete and uses low kicks as an important weapon in his game.

A native of Espírito Santo and brother of fellow WGP athlete Denis Jr., Iury has three bouts in WGP, with two wins and one loss. In his last appearance, at WGP 77, he defeated Rafael Sonak, also part of the Challenger, but in the other bracket. The Bahian fighter based in São Paulo, Cícero Evangelista, arrives with a similar record. He has four fights in the event, with three wins and one loss. That loss came precisely against division champion Marcos Carvalho at WGP 70.

On the other semifinal, Lucas Rafael measures forces with Rafael Sonak, in a fight surrounded by anticipation. And the two styles are not similar either. While Lucas is an athlete with good movement, precise kicks and great ease in changing tactics during the fight, Rafael has a more aggressive style, combining good kick combinations with sharp boxing.

One of the biggest prospects in South American kickboxing and with strong results on the amateur circuit, the fighter from Sorocaba, Lucas Rafael, has two wins and one loss in WGP, after a great battle against former division champion Jonas Salsicha, accepting a last-minute bout. Rafael Sonak will compete at home and counts on the support of the crowd to maintain his good record in WGP. There have been six bouts fought, with four wins and only two losses.

New feature: two Qualifiers GPs expand the battle for ranking space

Another major new feature of this edition is the two Qualifiers GP, contests that pave the way for new names to secure spots in the upcoming Challenger GPs in their divisions. In the Super Lightweight GP, host Julio Assunção faces Santa Catarina fighter Lucas Sorin in one of the semifinals, while on the other side of the bracket, Dilvando Castro faces experienced Bruno Santos, a fighter known for his dangerous kicks.

In the Welterweight GP, Brazilian Mateus Machado will also be at home and has Peruvian Renzo Torres ahead of him in an international clash that should energize the crowd. The other semifinal pits fellow Brazilian Gabriel Mollotov against Argentine Enzo Vicente in a classic South American duel. As with the Super Lightweights, the final winner also secures a spot in the Challenger GP in the race for the division title.

The card also features three other confirmed bouts. In the catchweight division (up to 65kg, women’s), Carol Sousa faces Fabiana Fraga in the fight that closes the Super Fights. In the Super Lightweights, Kauan Lee faces Gustavo Sete in the reserve fight of the Qualifiers GP. The full WGP 81 card will be announced in the coming days. Free tickets are available through the Sympla platform.