Denis Grachev (fighter)

Denis Grachev
Денис Грачев
Born Denis Alexandrovich Grachev
(1982-08-03) August 3, 1982
Chaykovsky, Perm Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Native name Денис Грачев
Other names Drago's Son
The Pirate
Residence San Diego, California, United States
Nationality Russian
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Division Light Heavyweight (Boxing)
Light Cruiserweight (Kickboxing)
Welterweight (Mixed Martial Arts)
Reach 175 cm (68.9 in)
Style Kickboxing
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of San Diego, California, United States
Team City Boxing
Trainer Vernon Lee
Manny Melchor
Rank International Master of Sport in Kickboxing
Years active Boxing: 2007 - present
Kickboxing: 1997 - 2010
Mixed Martial Arts: 2007 - 2008
Professional boxing record
Total 19
Wins 13
By knockout 8
Losses 5
By knockout 1
Draws 1
Kickboxing record
Total 20
Wins 17
By knockout 7
Losses 3
Mixed martial arts record
Total 4
Wins 3
By knockout 1
By submission 2
Losses 1
By decision 1
Other information
Occupation Kickboxing Instructor (2006 - present)[1]
Spouse Marika
Children Matilda (b. 2011)
Notable school(s) San Diego City College
Chaykovsky State Institute of Physical Culture (g. 2005)
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Denis Grachev
Medal record
Representing  Russia
Men's Kickboxing
World Championships
2005 Szeged -81 kg (Full Contact)
2004 Basel -81 kg (Low Kick)
Russian Championships
2006 Chelyabinsk -86 kg (Full Contact)
2006 Samara -81 kg (Low Kick)
2006 Cherepovets -84 kg (Light Contact)
2005 Nevinnomyssk -81 kg (Full Contact)
2004 Perm -81 kg (Light Contact)

Denis Alexandrovich Grachev (Russian: Денис Александрович Грачев) (born August 3, 1982)[2] is a Russian boxer, kickboxer, and mixed martial artist residing in the United States. Grachev was the IKF Muay Thai world light cruiserweight champion.

Biography

Grachev was born in 1982 in the city of Chaykovsky, Perm Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. Grachev started training in kickboxing at the age of 14 and was trained by Gregory Golubkova, Mikhail Stepanov, Alik Basharov, Vyacheslav Tutubalina, Yuri Vtyurina and Vladimir Lavrov throughout the years. In 2005, Grachev graduated from the Chaykovsky State Institute of Physical Culture with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education.[1][3]

In 2006, Grachev moved to San Diego, California, United States with Evgeny Khil — long-time friend and fellow kickboxer — after appointing Mark Dion of City Boxing as his manager. Grachev would represent City Boxing's professional fight team, as well as being the gym's kickboxing instructor. Although competing mostly under low kick/international and full contact rules, Grachev competed under Muay Thai rules while in the United States.[3] When Grachev first moved into the United States, he had no understanding of English at all and was enrolled in English classes at San Diego City College by his manager Mark Dion. At this stage of Grachev's migration into the United States, he had been dabbling in mixed martial arts and boxing — his manager Mark Dion had plans of moving Grachev's career away from kickboxing since there was little money in the sport.[4] Due to the lack of popularity of kickboxing in the United States, Denis Grachev eventually made the full-time commitment to boxing in 2011 and is primarily trained by former IBF minimumweight world champion Manny Melchor. Grachev states he has always enjoyed boxing, though resorted to kickboxing while growing up in Russia because there weren't any good boxing gyms in Chaykovsky.[5]

Kickboxing career

As an amateur in kickboxing, Grachev achieved a record of 123-18, with 40 of his wins coming by way of (T)KO.[6] In the 2004 WKA/IAKSA Amateur World Championships in Basel, Switzerland — the first joint federation world championship — Grachev won the bronze medal under low kick/international rules.[7] The following year in WAKO's Amateur World Championships in Szeged, Hungary, Grachev won the gold medal under full contact rules, also earning the classification of International Master of Sport in kickboxing.[8]

During his professional career in Russia, Grachev competed most of his bouts in World BARS Kickboxing Federation. On September 13, 2006, he won WBKF's vacant Commonwealth of Independent States -81 kg championship under international/low kick rules when he defeated Denis Goncharenko of Belarus.[9]

After moving to the United States in 2006, Grachev competed in his first kickboxing bout under Muay Thai rules against kickboxing legend Manson Gibson on July 7, 2007. The bout was for International Kickboxing Federation's Muay Thai light cruiserweight world championship. Grachev went on to win the world title with a third round TKO over Gibson after Gibson's corner threw in the towel from too much punishment.[10]

On November 29, 2007, Grachev took on WBC Muaythai light heavyweight world champion Joe Schilling — who is currently renowned for being a sparring partner of mixed martial arts world champion Nick Diaz.[11] Grachev defeated Schilling with a 47-second knockout in the first round after Grachev delivered a spinning heel kick to the body, as Schilling was unable to beat the referee's 10-count. In result, Grachev won IKKC's vacant U.S. super middleweight national championship.[12]

Boxing career

Denis Grachev made the transition to boxing in 2007 when he faced Rosendo Rubalcaba on June 24 — the professional debut for both combatants. Grachev won his professional debut with a second round knockout after knocking down Rubalcaba a total of four times the entire bout.[13]

On December 11, 2009 (in a 6-round fight), Grachev fought to a controversial majority draw against Ernesto Castaneda in a fight where he was the effective aggressor, more ring-general, landed more punches and the harder punches in a majority of the rounds, and the fact that almost every ringside observer thought that Grachev had done enough to win. One judge scored it in his favour, with the other to judges scoring the fight even.

On July 4, 2011, Grachev went on to capture his first major championship in boxing when he defeated Eddie Caminero with a third round TKO and becoming the WBC Continental Americas light heavyweight champion.[14]

On April 27, 2012, Grachev took on then-reigning NABF light heavyweight champion Ismayl Sillakh. At the time, Sillakh was a consensus top-10 ranked light heavyweight and was going into the bout as a heavy 11 to 1 odds favorite over Grachev. After being knocked down in the third round by Sillakh, as well as losing most rounds on the judges' scorecards, Grachev rallied an upset of the year TKO victory in the 8th round; also becoming the new NABF light heavyweight champion[15][16]

Denis Grachev put his NABF light heavyweight title against former IBF super middleweight world champion Lucian Bute on November 3, 2012.[17] The bout took place in Bute's hometown. Despite a tough, solid effort over 12 rounds, Grachev lost by unanimous decision. Though some believed that Grachev won the majority of the rounds (and therefore the fight) with his sheer aggression and the fact that he landed more punches,[18] most analysts and ringside observers agreed and believed that Bute had the upper hand throughout the bout, as he out-boxed Grachev throughout a majority of the rounds of the fight and managed to land the harder punches of both of the fighters.[19][20]


On March 30, 2013, Grachev added another big name to his boxing resume when he fought Zsolt Erdei in a controversial 10-round fight and defeated him via split decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Boxing

Kickboxing

Professional boxing record

13 Wins (8 knockouts, 4 decisions), 5 Losses, 1 Draw
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Loss 13-5-1 South Africa Thomas Oosthuizen RTD 11 (12) 2014-11-15 South Africa Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa
Loss 13-4-1 South Africa Ryno Liebenberg UD 12 2014-08-09 South Africa Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa For vacant WBC Silver Light Heavyweight title.
Loss 13-3-1 Malawi Isaac Chilemba UD 10 2014-03-15 Pennsylvania Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss 13-2-1 Dominican Republic Edwin Rodriguez TKO 1 (10), 2:50 2013-07-13 Monaco Salle des Etoiles, Monte-Carlo, Monaco Monte-Carlo Million Dollar Super Four Tournament Final.
Win 13-1-1 Hungary Zsolt Erdei SD 10 2013-03-30 Monaco Salle des Etoiles, Monte-Carlo, Monaco Monte-Carlo Million Dollar Super Four Tournament Semifinal.
Loss 12-1-1 Romania Lucian Bute UD 12 2012-11-03 Canada Centre Bell, Montréal, Québec, Canada Lost NABF Light Heavyweight title.
Win 12-0-1 Ukraine Ismayl Sillakh TKO 8 (10), 2:18 2012-04-27 Texas Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas, United States Won NABF Light Heavyweight title.
Win 11-0-1 United States Eddie Caminero TKO 3 (10), 1:29 2011-07-09 Florida Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida, United States Won vacant WBC Continental Americas Light Heavyweight title.
Win 10-0-1 Cape Verde Vladine Biosse TKO 4 (10), 2:56 2011-05-06 Connecticut Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States
Win 9-0-1 Haiti Azea Augustama MD 8 2011-01-14 Florida Magic City Casino, Miami, Florida, United States
Draw 8-0-1 Mexico Ernesto Castaneda MD 6 2009-12-11 California Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, United States
Win 8-0 Mexico Roberto Baro KO 3 (6), 2:58 2009-11-12 California Four Points Sheraton Hotel, San Diego, California, United States
Win 7-0 United States Carlos Raul Ibarra MD 6 2009-08-27 California Four Points Sheraton Hotel, San Diego, California, United States
Win 6-0 United States Ayodeji Fadeyi TKO 4 (6), 1:00 2009-04-30 California 4th and B, San Diego, California, United States
Win 5-0 United States Thomas Haines TKO 3 (6), 0:54 2008-10-23 California Four Points Sheraton Hotel, San Diego, California, United States
Win 4-0 United States Caleb Caldwell KO 2 (4), 2:26 2008-07-24 California 4th and B, San Diego, California, United States
Win 3-0 United States Freeman Taft UD 4 2007-10-11 California Oceanview Pavilion, Port Hueneme, California, United States
Win 2-0 United States Robert Ryan UD 4 2007-07-29 California Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, United States
Win 1-0 Mexico Rosendo Rubalcaba KO 2 (4), 2:06 2007-06-24 California Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, California, United States Grachev's professional debut.

Kickboxing record (Incomplete)

Kickboxing Record

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 3–1 Brazil Ricardo Funch Decision (unanimous) Cage Fight MMA 2: Blunt Force Trauma August 23, 2008 3 5:00 Manchester, New Hampshire, United States
Win 3–0 United States Daniel McWilliamson Submission (guillotine) Fist Series: WinterFist 2008 February 20, 2008 2 0:47 Irvine, California, United States
Win 2–0 United States Chris Reed TKO (punches) Primal MMA: Noche de los Muertos November 3, 2007 1 2:55 Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Win 1–0 United States Kevin Greenwall Submission (guillotine) Ultimate Combat Experience: Round 27 - Finals September 22, 2007 1 2:31 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

References

  1. 1 2 "Denis Grachev". cityboxing.com.
  2. ↑ "Denis Grachev". boxrec.com.
  3. 1 2 "I'm in Russia, want to go home...". chaint.ru.
  4. ↑ "Russkie Business". utsandiego.com.
  5. ↑ "Denis Grachev: If I Win a World Championship Belt in the Future, I Will Open My Own Promotional Company". allboxing.ru.
  6. 1 2 "IKF Men's Pro Muay Thai and/or Modified & K-1 Rules World Rankings". ikfkickboxing.com.
  7. 1 2 "World Kickboxing Championships 2004 (WKA and IAKSA)". fkr.ru.
  8. 1 2 "Szeged World Championships (Hungary)" (PDF). fkr.ru.
  9. ↑ "News". wbkf.ru.
  10. ↑ "World Championship Muay Thai Recap". thefightgame.tv.
  11. ↑ "Diaz brings in Top Muay Thai Fighters Schilling & Mulkey in Preparation for Condit at UFC 143". mmainterviews.tv.
  12. 1 2 "WCK: Full Rules Muay Thai Recap". thefightgame.tv.
  13. ↑ "June 07 News". ikfkickboxing.com.
  14. 1 2 "City Boxing's Denis Grachev Stops Caminero". thefightgame.tv.
  15. ↑ "Denis Grachev, an 11-1 Underdog Upsets Ismayl Sillakh". philboxing.com.
  16. 1 2 "NABF Awards!". nabfnews.com.
  17. ↑ "Bute-Grachev Slated for Nov. 3". ringtv.com.
  18. ↑ "MMQB: Bute saved by hometown decision". montrealgazette.com.
  19. ↑ "Bute dominates Grachev in impressive performance - Boxing News". 3 November 2012.
  20. ↑ "Bute is back! Froch is next - Boxing News". 3 November 2012.
  21. ↑ Christ, Scott (13 July 2013). "Boxing results: Edwin Rodriguez starches Denis Grachev in one, Allakhverdiev retains". BadLeftHook.com.
  22. ↑ "President's Report: May 2012". nabfnews.com.
  23. ↑ "Results". wbkf.ru.
  24. ↑ "Two Titles in Four Bouts". nevod.ru.
  25. ↑ "Kickboxing Championships of Russia CHELYABINSK '06". fkr.ru.
  26. ↑ "Kickboxing Championships of Russia SAMARA '06". fkr.ru.
  27. ↑ "Kickboxing Championships of Russia CHEREPOVETS '06". fkr.ru.
  28. ↑ "Kickboxing Federation of Russia Competition Results". fkr.ru.
  29. ↑ "Gold' Eight". nevod.ru.
  30. ↑ "Tchaikovsky kickboxer Artem Poleschuk won "Cup of Peter"". kamasport.ru.
  31. ↑ "Honored Coaches, Honored Master of Sports, International Master of Sports". chaikovskiy.ru.
Achievements
Preceded by
Ismail Sillakh		 NABF Light Heavyweight Champion
April 27, 2012 – November 3, 2012 		Succeeded by
Lucian Bute
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