The Battle 18 was held on Sunday April 29 in Athens, Greece. The event promoted by Stefanos Konstantinidis featured the best Greek fighters, international competitors as well as a series of championship bouts. Two WKN titles were contested on the night.
The event was headlined by a four-man contest, featuring the leading Greek Light Heavyweights battling it out in a single-eliminator tournament with WKN National title on the line.
In one of the semi-finals Giannis Manolas scored a decision against Marios Blanas. In another, Nikos Tzotzos defeated Emmanuel Diakam also by decision.
The championship round between Manolas and Tzotzos ended prior the final bell. The latter stopped his opponent in the third round, consequently talking all tournament.
Ultimately, Nikos Tzotzos becomes a new WKN Greek Light Heavyweight champion. He also remains undefeated, updating his professional record to 12-0, 9 KOs.
The Ladies First special featured Greek Mixed Martial Artist Christina Stelliou who squared off against Croatian Nikolina Katic, challenging for WKN International flyweight title. The representative of the country-host claimed the victory by knockout in the first round, taking prestigious strap.
The Battle 18 marked three years of collaboration between the N.1 Greek Fight Show and World Kickboxing Network. The results can be found below.
The Battle 18 by WKN results
Kickboxing
WKN Greek Light Heavyweight Grand Prix
Semi-final Giannis Manolas def. Marios Blanas via unanimous decision
Semi-final Nikos Tzotzos def. Emmanuel Diakam via unanimous decision
Final Nikos Tzotzos def. Giannis Manolas via third-round KO
Featherweight Dimitris Peloumpi def. Sargis Petrosyan via decision
Catchweight (52.5 kg) Xanthi Raftopoulou def. Reggina Tsampodimou
MMA
Welterweight Giannis Michalopoulos def. Edin Sinanovic
Middleweight John Pale def. Zoran Dod via first-round TKO
Flyweight Christina Stelliou def. Nikolina Katic via first-round KO
Boxing
Welterweight Stelios Papadopoulos def. Devis Perez via tenth-round TKO (Throw in the towel)