The eagerly awaited K-1 cruiserweight title fight has been postponed.
After Liu Ce had to withdraw from their originally scheduled fight earlier this year, it is now Thian de Vries who finds himself unable to compete. The Dutch fighter sustained a hand injury last weekend at 8TKO #18, where he secured another championship belt by stopping Kevin van Heeckeren in the second round under Xtreme Standup rules, which are essentially Muay Thai with MMA gloves.
De Vries recounted the incident, noting that due to the reduced hand protection:
`Literally, the first left straight broke my hand.`
De Vries was set to defend his K-1 Cruiserweight title against Liu Ce at K-1 World MAX 2025 on November 15th. While no official confirmation has been issued, reports indicate that his return to competition this year is highly improbable.
This outcome is unfortunate, as both powerful strikers were expected to deliver an explosive performance in what would have been the most significant bout of either fighter`s career. With Liu Ce having hinted at a future in MMA, fans are hopeful that this setback will not spell the end for this anticipated matchup.
Oliver Croft