Former Top Ten Heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov to Make K-1 Kickboxing Debut

Former top ten PRIDE heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov (15-4) of Russia will make his professional kickboxing debut versus Romanian veteran Daniel Ghi?? at K-1 World GP 2009 Final in Yokohama December 5.

Early in his career, Kharitonov served as a training partner for Fighters.com Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1). His martial arts background is primarily in combat sambo and boxing, but he has added elements of Muay Thai and karate in the last two years.  Kharitonov earned a spot in MMA’s top ten rankings at heavyweight as recently as October 2008, but has since lost via submission to “Snowman” Jeff Monson (28-2) at DREAM.8 in Nagoya April 5.

Kharitonov isn’t going light in his kickboxing debut.  In August, Ghi?? set a new K-1 record by winning three bouts in less than six minutes at the K-1 Tokyo Final 16 Qualifying Grandprix.