Vitaly Hurkou (Belarusian: Вiталь Рыгоравiч Гуркоў; born March 27, 1985), is a BelarusianwelterweightMuay Thaikickboxer fighting out of Minsk for Patriot Gym. He is a seven time amateur Muay Thai world champion and is the K-1 World MAX 2010 East Europe champion currently competing in Kunlun Fight.[1] He is also the singer of the rock band Brutto.
Amateur career
Vitaly has been a prominent member of the Belarusian Muay Thai national team. He won his first international tournament in his teens, winning gold at the 2001 I.F.M.A. European Championships. He followed this up two years later aged just 17 by winning a gold medal in the 61 kg category at the 2003 I.A.M.T.F. World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. Between 2004 and 2008 Vitaly would win four gold medals at the W.M.F. world championships (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) along with a gold medal at the 2004 W.K.P.F. World Championships and gold at the 2006 W.A.K.O. European Championships.
In 2008 Vitaly entered the 4th Busan TAFISA World Games in Busan, South Korea which was holding the 2008 I.F.M.A. World Championship. He made the final but had to make do with silver – losing his final match to the UkrainianPetr Nakonechnyi. He returned with a vengeance the following year winning the 2009 I.F.M.A. European Championship and the 2009 I.F.M.A. World Championship. At the world championship Vitaly defeated Marcus Öberg in the quarter-finals before gaining his revenge on Nakonechnyi in the semi-finals en route to winning gold. At the I.F.M.A. world championships in 2010, Vitaly made it through to the final but lost in the gold medal match, although he would win gold earlier on in the year at the I.F.M.A. European Championships in Italy. So far in his amateur career he has nine medals at World championships (seven gold, two silver) and three golds at European championships from 61 kg through to his current weight of 71 kg.
As a result of his successful amateur career, Gurkov has increasingly become involved in professional competitions. In 2007, he entered the W.M.C. Brute Force 8 Judgment Day - 72 kg tournament in Melbourne, Australia. Gurkov showed his amateur skills were not lost on the professional circuit, defeating Australian Greg Foley in the final to win the event. In 2008, he attempted to qualify for The Contender Asia Season 2 Muay Thai reality show in Chelyabinsk, Russia. He defeated amateur rival Petr Nakonechnyi in the semi-finals but lost to reigning 75 kg I.M.F.A. World Champion Artem Levin by TKO in the final. In 2009, he had more disappointment, losing in the final of the Tatneft Cup - 70 kg category.
In 2010, Gurkov made his mark on the professional circuit at the K-1 World MAX 2010 East Europe Tournament on March 19 in Minsk, Belarus. He defeated his first two opponents by decision before facing Zamin Guseynov from Azerbaijan in the final. After three rounds, Gurkov was crowned K-1 World MAX 2010 East Europe champion, defeating his opponent by unanimous decision. This victory meant that Gurkov qualified for kickboxing’s most prestigious competition at the forthcoming K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16. At the event, Gurkov was given the toughest draw, having to face reigning K-1 champion Giorgio Petrosyan in Seoul. After three rounds, Vitaly failed to cause an upset, his K-1 MAX dream finished by a unanimous decision defeat. A few weeks later, he was knocked out of another high-profile tournament, losing to Petchmankong Petchfocus in the second round of the Izuzu Thai Fight Muay Thai competition.
He beat Fares Bechar via decision in the quarter-finals of the 2012 Thai Fight 70 kg Tournament at Thai Fight 2012: King of Muay Thai in Bangkok, Thailand on October 23, 2012.[3][4][5]
He then beat Antero Hynynen in the tournament semi-finals in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand on November 25, 2012.[6][7]
He defeated Kem Sitsongpeenong by decision to win the WBC Muaythai World Super Welterweight (-69.8 kg/154 lb) Championship at Ring Wars in Milan, Italy on January 25, 2014.[10]
He was expected fight Tony Hervey at Kickboxing Empire II in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on March 8, 2014, but Hervey was replaced with Jaseem Al Djilwi. Gurkov won by TKO in round three after barraging Al Djiwali with a knee to the body and subsequent unanswered follow-up punches in round three.[11][12]
In 2017 Gurkov joined Banchamek Gym and had his first fight representing the camp at Kunlun Fight 62. He defeated Nurla Mulali of China by decision on June 10, 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand.[13]
On November 5, 2017 Gurkov won eight-man 75 kg tournament at Kunlun Fight 66 in Wuhan, China, defeating Chinese Nurla Mulali, Thai Arthit Hanchana, and Iranian Hossein Karami.[14]
On July 27, 2019 Gurkov won the 75 kg tournament in Beijing, China to become the first athlete in the promotion to win the belt twice.[15]
