Israeli fighter Ahavat Gordon scored an emphatic technical knockout victory Saturday night over Turkish opponent Ali Koyuncu at UTMA 17, an event hosted by the Lithuania-based UTMA promotion.
The bout, which drew significant media attention in recent days, was contested under Muay Thai rules using MMA gloves. Gordon, 19, controlled much of the fight until Koyuncu was unable to continue, prompting the referee to stop the contest and award the Israeli a technical knockout.
Ahavat Gordon beats Turkish opponent Ali Koyuncu at UTMA 17
The matchup also took on a charged dimension outside the ring after Koyuncu posted anti-Israel comments on social media in the days leading up to the fight. Gordon responded during the official weigh-in, telling his opponent, “I brought a doctor to fix your face after the fight. Now there’s no mercy.” He appeared to back up those words in the ring.
Gordon came out aggressively in the opening round, landing two powerful leg kicks that knocked Koyuncu to the canvas. The Israeli fighter dropped his opponent several times in the first round, though Koyuncu managed to survive the early onslaught.
The pattern continued in the second round. Koyuncu attempted to steady himself and make the contest more competitive, but Gordon maintained a clear edge on points. The Turkish fighter appeared increasingly frustrated, absorbed cumulative damage and began bleeding before ultimately being ruled unable to continue.
The victory keeps Gordon undefeated in his professional career at 11-0 and further cements his status as one of Israel’s most prominent emerging talents in the sport in recent years. Gordon has said his next goal is to become a UTMA champion.