New Zealand will host some of the biggest names in combat sport with the inaugural Kickboxing and MMA World Cup to be hosted in Auckland in November.
Competitors from around the world will travel to New Zealand to take part in the event, which will see fighters of the kickboxing and mixed martial arts disciplines come together in a mammoth three-day tournament, where the last fighter standing will be crowned World Kickboxing Network (WKN) world champion.
In total, there are 32 sanctioned World Cup titles up for grabs. Fighters will battle through their heats on November 28 and 29, which will decide the finals matchups on November 30.
These bouts will be followed by two professional title fights, featuring a super-heavyweight kickboxing bout between world champion Gregory Tony and UFC star Antonio Silva - who famously fought KIwi Mark Hunt twice inside the Octagon.
The other will be a light heavyweight MMA bout between New Zealand's Kelvin Joseph and Brazilian-American Roan Carneiro.
Promoter Steve Oliver is pleased New Zealand will get to host such a big combat sports event.
"To have an event of this magnitude is huge," he said. "Both kickboxing and MMA world titles at one event is history in the making, the best athletes combat sports has to offer, competing on our home soil.
"It's an amazing opportunity never given before to athletes in this part of the world. With 30 Amateur World Cup titles and two professional titles up for grabs, New Zealand has truly arrived on the world stage in martial arts."
Newshub.
Join Newshub on Sunday June 30 for live updates of Joseph Parker v Alex Leapai.
