MAX FC to crown first Korea Series champions in 3 weight classes

Domestic stand-up fighting organization MAX FC will hold the inaugural Korea Series championship bouts at MAX FC First League 46 in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Saturday.

Three inaugural champions will be decided across the men's 65-kilogram and 70-kilogram classes and the women's 56-kilogram class. Ranking bouts, amateur league matches and open league bouts will also be on the card.

In the men's 65 kg title fight, Kim Geon-ho (19, Cheongbuk Tuhon Jeongsimgwan) meets Min Gyeong-seong (17, Yeoju Jeongjin Gymnasium). The men's 70 kg bout features Kang Seong-mo (17, Namyangju Jeongjin Wild) against Song Geon-u (20, Jeju Fight and Fitness), while Kim Hwi-jin (29, Suwon Homaesil Taikhon) and Heo Ju-gyeong (23, Wonju Team J) will contest the women's 56 kg title.

The Korea Series is a newly established championship that MAX FC created to give amateur fighters concrete goals and competitive opportunities.

MAX FC introduced the open league in July last year to expand competitive opportunities for Muay Thai and kickboxing practitioners. The format was designed to ease the pressure of winning and losing, allowing recreational trainees to gain real match experience.

In the year since the open league launched, 405 bouts were held across 11 events, with 810 fighters competing in total — 136 open league bouts, 212 amateur league bouts and 57 First League bouts.

Building on that foundation, MAX FC established the Korea Series to give amateur fighters the chance to compete not just for experience but for a championship title.

"This is a stage that brings together everyone from first-time stand-up fighting practitioners to amateur athletes challenging for a championship title," MAX FC President Lee Yong-bok said. "We expect it to be an opportunity to further expand the league structure that MAX FC has built."