Iraj Azizpour

Iraj Azizpour may dub himself a “gentle giant” outside the Circle. But when he laces up the gloves, the kickboxing star is far from that.

Azizpour is one of the most decorated kickboxers fighting out of Iran. He possesses enormous tools that can put opponents to sleep in a blink of an eye. After all, he’s been fine-tuning his crunching power and striking dexterity since he was 13. 

The Iranian fell in love with kung fu after catching a couple of Bruce Lee movies, and he tirelessly worked his way to a black belt in the discipline. Not one to sit on his laurels, he soon opted to widen his horizon, which led him to boxing, Muay Thai, and kickboxing.

While most of his friends grappled on the wrestling mats, the heavyweight opted to stick with what he does best. That decision paid off as Azizpour picked up multiple accolades in kickboxing, Muay Thai, and boxing. The most notable of those titles was the Kunlun Fight Heavyweight Grand Prix Championship that he claimed versus reigning ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion Roman Kryklia in February 2018.

Azizpour continued to decimate rivals over the next three years, and in 2021, ONE Championship came knocking on his door. From there, his career trajectory has been progressing even more rapidly. Azizpour saw off Brazilian kickboxing veteran Anderson “Braddock” Silva in his ONE debut and returned a couple of months later to knock out Ismael Londt.

Those performances earned him a spot in the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, and Azizpour earned a decisive victory over Bruno Chaves in the semifinals to earn a date with Kyrklia in the final. The third installment of their epic rivalry will take place at ONE 163, where Azizpour will attempt to claim the tournament’s prestigious silver belt.