As kickboxing continues to expand its global footprint through major promotional powerhouses like GLORY, K-1, ONE Championship, and various international circuits, athletes across the globe are constantly jockeying for vital positioning in the eyes—and rankings—of the media. Every month, Combat Press meticulously compiles kickboxing rankings for every weight class, stretching from the heavyweight division down to strawweight, while also evaluating the top pound-for-pound talents in both the men’s and women’s categories.
The sport’s ecosystem remains intensely competitive, with fighters staking their reputations on high-stakes performances around the world. The October 2026 rankings reflect a dynamic period marked by championship changes, tournament bouts, and strategic shifts caused by inactivity and retirements.
Heavyweight (95+ Kilograms)
The heavyweight division remains a landscape of raw power and imposing athletes. In recent action, fourth-ranked Sofian Laïdouni stepped into the GLORY ring to face Karim Zeghad at GLORY 110, which emanated from Antwerp, Belgium. Laïdouni put on a masterclass of control and pressure, completely dominating the contest over the three-round distance. His efforts were rewarded by the judges, who all turned in identical, lopsided 30-24 scorecards in his favor. Despite the statement victory, the upper echelon of the heavyweight rankings remains unchanged as fighters eye potential title opportunities against the division’s reigning champions.
Light Heavyweight (95 Kilograms)
The light heavyweight division saw high-level action from one of its most promising contenders. Fifth-ranked Michael Boapeah made his much-anticipated return to the GLORY ring, putting together a convincing, well-rounded three-round performance against Alin Nechita. The Dutch-Ghanaian powerhouse showcased superior technique and pacing, sweeping all five judges’ scorecards to capture a definitive unanimous-decision victory. Like the heavyweights, the division’s hierarchy holds steady for the month, with Boapeah firmly cementing his status near the top.
Middleweight (85 Kilograms)
Middleweight action delivered dramatic finishes and international championship hardware. Second-ranked Joshua Akingbade continued his impressive, surging run through the division during October, squaring off against Alex Fernandez at GLORY 110. Akingbade’s relentless pressure and damaging output proved too much, securing another stoppage victory when Fernandez’s corner wisely declined to send their battered fighter out for the third round.
Meanwhile, fifth-ranked Sergej Braun was in action across promotional lines, traveling to Dortmund, Germany, for the K-1 World GP -90kg Qualification event. Braun put forth a tactical masterclass to defeat Brice Kombou by unanimous decision, capturing prestigious world titles for the ISKA, WFL, and WKU K-1 organizations. Despite these stellar performances and championship victories, the division’s top-10 rankings remain unchanged.
Welterweight (79 Kilograms)
The welterweight division experienced a quiet month on the competitive front. With no top-10 ranked fighters stepping into the ring for notable bouts during October, the division’s rankings remain entirely unchanged as athletes prepare for upcoming winter cards.
Lightweight (71 Kilograms)
The lightweight division underwent significant structural changes, driven by both inactivity and high-profile international tournament bouts. Before factoring in the October results, a notable departure occurred as Younes Smaili, formerly ranked ninth, was removed from the rankings. Smaili had not secured a victory in a lightweight contest in several years, prompting the panel to drop him from the active top 10.
Action inside the ONE Championship ring further shook up the weight class on Oct. 17. Fifth-ranked Mohammad Siasarani returned to the global stage to compete in a ONE featherweight kickboxing tournament semifinal against Japanese star Masaaki Noiri. In a closely contested battle, Noiri emerged victorious via a split decision. As a result of the win, Noiri enters the rankings directly into the No. 5 spot, causing the fighters below him to shift down one position to fill the vacancy left by Smaili’s removal.
Super Featherweight (68 Kilograms)
The super featherweight weight class saw no active competition among its elite contenders throughout the month of October. Consequently, the top-10 rankings for the division remain entirely static.
Featherweight (66 Kilograms)
Featherweight proved to be one of the absolute most active and volatile divisions of the month, with four ranked Combat Press fighters competing across two major, high-profile events.
The drama peaked at GLORY 110 in Antwerp, where third-ranked Miguel Trindade captured the vacant GLORY featherweight championship. The Portuguese standout faced Deniz Demirkapu in the main event and delivered a sensational third-round stoppage. Trindade systematically dismantled his opponent, scoring three consecutive knockdowns courtesy of punishing low kicks to claim the coveted belt.
Simultaneously, ONE Samurai 4 in Tokyo featured two massive featherweight kickboxing contests involving ranked athletes. Fifth-ranked Jonathan Haggerty successfully defended the ONE bantamweight kickboxing championship against eighth-ranked Hiroki Akimoto, halting the resilient Japanese challenger just 42 seconds into the third round with a devastating sequence. Sixth-ranked Yuki Yoza also competed in the Japanese capital, locking horns with Nabil Anane in another prominent ONE bantamweight kickboxing clash. Anane controlled the matchup methodically, doing enough to earn a clean unanimous-decision victory over Yoza.
Following these stellar performances, Anane enters the rankings at No. 5, though his longevity at that spot remains to be seen as he prepares to challenge Nico Carrillo for the ONE featherweight Muay Thai title in December. The addition of Anane pushes the rest of the division down one notch, resulting in No. 9 Bobo Sacko falling out of the top 10 entirely. Sacko has not tasted victory since June 2025, sealing his exit from the active rankings.
Super Bantamweight (64 Kilograms)
The super bantamweight division experienced no movement among its elite athletes in October. With the top-10 fighters sitting out or awaiting their next bookings, the rankings are untouched.
Bantamweight (61.2 Kilograms)
Similar to several lighter weight classes, the bantamweight division featured a quiet month. No top-10 fighters were in active competition during October, leaving the rankings completely unchanged.
Super Flyweight (58 Kilograms)
The super flyweight weight class saw no matches involving ranked contenders over the past month. The rankings, therefore, stand pat as fighters look toward upcoming late-year events.
Flyweight (56.7 Kilograms)
The flyweight division witnessed a changing of the guard following a high-stakes championship clash at RISE 202 in Tokyo. Seventh-ranked Ryunosuke Omori suffered a definitive setback while competing in the main event for the vacant RISE featherweight championship, getting stopped in the opening round by Akito Nakashima. The 19-year-old Nakashima remains undefeated as a professional and enters the rankings at the No. 7 position. Due to this shake-up, Eito Kurokawa drops out of the top 10.
Strawweight (54 Kilograms and Below)
The strawweight division saw its top-ranked athlete in action, though it ultimately did not impact the rankings. Toki Tamaru returned to the ring at ONE Samurai 4 in Tokyo to face Shoma Okumura. While Okumura secured a unanimous-decision victory, the bout was contested at 125 pounds, falling outside the strawweight limit. Because of this, the strawweight rankings remain completely unaffected and unchanged.
Women’s Divisions and Pound-for-Pound Updates
The women’s side of the sport experienced a massive structural overhaul driven by retirements, extended inactivity, and high-level championship bouts. Before evaluating October’s results, the rankings committee removed several notable names. No. 2-ranked Koyuki Miyazaki has officially retired from active competition and was removed alongside top-ranked Phetjeeja and No. 9 Jackie Buntan, both of whom have not secured a kickboxing victory in over 18 months.
These departures triggered a cascade of adjustments. Most fighters below them moved up to fill the gaps, with one notable exception: No. 4 Martine Michieletto dropped to No. 7 due to inactivity, having not fought since June 2025 when she lost to Débora Évora. To round out the top 10, Phayahong Banchamek, Mei Miyamoto, and 20-year-old prospect Aki Suematsu entered the rankings at eighth, ninth, and tenth places, respectively.
Amidst the administrative shuffling, the division’s active stars continued to shine in the ring. Seventh-ranked Tessa de Kom successfully defended her RISE QUEEN flyweight championship at RISE 202 in Tokyo. The Dutch champion faced YAYA Weerasakreck in a 52-kilogram title showdown and put an exclamation mark on her performance in the fourth round, securing a knockout victory via a perfectly timed left knee. De Kom solidifies her standing at her newly established No. 4 position as the women’s landscape continues its rapid evolution.
Editor’s Note: Fighters are strictly eligible to be ranked if they have competed within the last 18 months. Any fighter who chooses to switch weight classes will remain ranked in their previous weight division until they have competed at least twice in their new weight class.
