Gokhan Saki News

Thomas Taylor - July 8, 2018

When kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki stepped into the Octagon with Khalil Rountree at UFC 226, the widespread feeling was that Rountree would be very wise to get the fight to the ground as soon as possible. The longer the fight went, it was the thought, the more likely he was to get knocked out by dangerous foe. That’s not the way things went down.

Chris Taylor - July 7, 2018

A light heavyweight bout between Khalil Rountree and knockout artist Gokhan Saki kicked off tonight’s UFC 226 main card from Las Vegas. The former K1 world champion, Gokhan Saki, made his octagon debut this past September where he earned a first-round knockout victory over Henrique da Silva.

Tom Taylor - May 11, 2018

Back in September, fearsome kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki made a successful UFC debut, authoring a thunderous first-round knockout of Henrique da Silva. On July 7, when the UFC returns to glimmering Las Vegas, Nevada with UFC 226, Saki will partake in his second UFC bout, as he faces off with the dangerous Khalil Rountree. Saki’s bout with Rountree was initially supposed to occur in December, but was postponed when he sustained an injury in training.

Tom Taylor - May 9, 2018

Kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki, who made his UFC debut in September with a first-round demolition of Henrique da Silva, might just be the most accomplished striker to ever set foot in the Octagon. As such, his opinions on the UFC’s other striking specialists are particularly interesting. In a Wednesday interview with BJPenn.com’s Jason Kindschy, Saki was asked to size up the UFC’s other striking experts. Let’s just say his answer reflected his tremendous confidence in his own abilities.

Tom Taylor - May 7, 2018

If former UFC middleweight king Michael Bisping fights again, it will be the final bout of his career. Given that his next fight will be his last, “The Count” has been waiting for a special opponent. Kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki is hoping to be that opponent. Saki, who picked up his first UFC win back in September, called for a bout with the Brit on social media, after Bisping asked the fans who they wanted to see him fight.

Tom Taylor - April 13, 2018

After scoring an exciting knockout win over Luis Henrique da Silva in his September UFC debut, Gokhan Saki was scheduled for a quick turnaround opposite Khalil Rountree. The bout was expected to occur at UFC 219 in December. Regrettably, Saki was forced out of this fight with an injury, and replaced by debuting polish fighter Michal Oleksiejczuk. Oleksiejczuk then defeated Rountree by decision, but the bout was overturned when the Pole tested positive for clomiphene.

Justin Golightly - December 22, 2017

After Nate Diaz spit flames on his longest interview since May, the world once again was talking about the Stockton soldier. For over 45 minutes, he talked about everything from Conor McGregor, the UFC’s ‘propaganda machine’, and what it would take to get him back in the Octagon. People have jumped on his quote of ‘ask nicely’ with a Sage Northcutt meme that had Team Alpha Male laughing, now kickboxing vet turned UFC fighter Gokhan Saki has joined the campaign to get Diaz to return to MMA. Dear Diaz @NateDiaz209 ,

Tom Taylor - December 13, 2017

If things had gone according to plan, UFC 219 would feature one more dynamite light heavyweight scrap than it currently does, as kickboxer Gokhan Saki was expected to battle Khalil Rountree on the card. Unfortunately, this fight was nixed when Saki was forced to withdraw with an injury. Saki elaborated on the injury that forced him out of this anticipated fight in a conversation with Peter Carroll of MMAFighting.com.

Tom Taylor - October 15, 2017

Just weeks removed from his successful UFC debut – a first round clobbering of Henrique da Silva – kickboxing icon Gokhan Saki is already scheduled for his second Octagon bout. This sophomore UFC effort will occur at UFC 219 this December 30, when he will battle rising light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree. Speaking to MMAFighting.com earlier this week, Saki shared his initial thoughts on his bout with Rountree. Though Rountree is something of a knockout artist himself, Saki fully expects him to try to turn their fight into a grappling match.

Tom Taylor - October 9, 2017

Last month, on the main card of the UFC’s exciting return to Japan, kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki (83-12 KB, 1-1 MMA) made his anticipated UFC debut. While his performance was not without flaws, Saki ultimately produced just the kind of thunderous knockout he’s known for, putting his foe Luis Henrique down with a blistering left hook in the first frame. With this exciting debut win in the books, Saki got pretty much the entire MMA community excited about his future in the sport. And now, his next step has been booked. The kickboxing transplant will take on rising light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree (6-2) at UFC 219, which is scheduled for December 30 in Las Vegas.

Tom Taylor - October 1, 2017

Late last month, on the main card of the UFC’s anticipated return to Japan, kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki made his UFC debut, and delivered with flying colours. Though he seemed to have a bit of an issue with his gas tank, he authored one of the best knockouts in recent memory, putting his opponent Henrique Da Silva down with a blistering left hook in the first round. And now, he’s hoping to hop right back into the cage. Speaking on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Saki shared his plans to move to the United States, and hopefully, fight once more before the year is out.

Tom Taylor - September 26, 2017

Last weekend, on the main card of the UFC’s latest trip to Japan, kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki made his anticipated UFC debut. His opponent was Brazilian light heavyweight Henrique da Silva. Though Saki ultimately managed to put da Silva down with a crashing left hook in the first round, his win was not without flaws. The most glaring issue with his performance was that his cardio seemed to fade just minutes into the fight, at which point da Silva actually managed to start landing significant shots on him.

Chris Taylor - September 23, 2017

Kickboxing world champion Gokhan Saki made his highly-anticipated octagon debut at last night’s UFC Fight Night 117 event in Japan against Luis Henrique da Silva. After a wild opening few minutes, which saw both fighters have their moments, Saki was able to land a hook that absolutely floored Da Silva and put a stop to the contest late in round one.

Chris Taylor - September 22, 2017

A light heavyweight scrap between Henrique da Silva and Gokhan Saki took place on tonight’s UFC Fight Night 117 main card in Japan. Round one begins and Saki scores a knockdown right off the bat. Da Silva wants him to come to the floor but Gohkan wisely opts against it. Da Silva steps back up and comes forward with a jab. Saki responds with a hard low kick and then some shots to the body. Saki is landing bombs now. Da Silva ties up but can’t keep a hold of him. Da Silva with some knees inside. Saki responds with a big left but Da Silva fires right back with a head kick. Saki looks tired. He fires off a left hand that floors Da Silva. This one is all over. Wow!

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

With Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua off the UFC Japan card, there’s not many big match-ups beside the criminally underrated fight between Claudia Gadelha and Jessica Andrade. Another fight that has slipped under the radar, is the UFC debut of K-1 and Glory kickboxing veteran, Gokhan Saki. After his opponent Henrique da Silva made a bold claim that he was going to knock Saki out, Alistair Overeem made it known he thought old friend Saki would take home the win. Now, Gokhan Saki himself speaks up about his opponent’s prediction. “During the face-off, what I saw in his eyes is that he is not confident. He knows what’s going to happen tomorrow – that’s what I could see in his eyes. I don’t know why these people say [things like that]. It makes me think that they don’t know what fighting is. I don’t understand how he can say he will beat me by KO. Every fight starts standing. Even if it’s on the ground or whatever, if they understand what fighting is, they would never talk like this. The people who say these things are hating on me. I don’t know a lot of other people that really think he is going to knock me out. Maybe if it was just three minutes he would have a chance because he could just run away. Five minutes is long enough for me to kick his ass.”

Justin Golightly - September 21, 2017

Japan loves Alistair Overeem. From all his fights in PRIDE and multiple kickboxing matches in K-1, he became a legend in Japan way before he gained notoriety as a feared heavyweight in the UFC. It just makes sense that The Reem would be in Tokyo ahead of UFC Japan to enjoy the fights with the rest of us. During media day, Overem made sure to put a good word in for another K-1 veteran who makes his debut on Saturday: Gokhan Saki. “I love coming [to Japan]. There’s a lot of memories. A lot of different promotions, a lot of fighters, coaches, a lot of experiences here. So, we continue now here with the UFC, yet another new promotion. I’m very curious about the show, very curious about the fans, how the energy will be. If we can capture the same energy as the previous shows, Pride and the K-1. Of course this is a little bit of a different audience than the American audience or the Brazilian audience. But I’m sure, they have a great fight card and my friend Gokhan Saki is always good for action. So, it’s going to be a great event I’m sure.”

Russell Ess - July 14, 2017

The highly anticipated UFC debut of kickboxing star Gokhan Saki has been announced. Saki, who is considered one of the best kickboxers in the world announced on social media that he will be making his UFC debut in Japan at the UFC Fight Night 117 event at Saitama Super Arena, which takes place on September 23. The UFC announced that Saki will meet Henrique da Silva in the Octagon where Mauricio Rua and Ovince Saint Preux will fight in a rematch as the main event.

Tom Taylor - June 1, 2017

Yesterday, we learned that British knockout artist Jimi Manuwa will take on fellow top-5 light heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 214 this July 29 in Anaheim, California. While Manuwa is one of the most established names in the UFC light heavyweight division, Oezdemir remains a relative unknown among many fans, having burst into the top-5 after just two fights in the UFC.