Tyrone Spong

As the sport of mixed martial arts continues to explode onto the global sports scene, more and more competitors from other forms of athletics are making their way into the MMA world. Professional boxers, football players, wrestlers, and others have tried their hand at success in the fastest growing sport in the world. Most have faltered in pursuit of their goal. Famed kickboxer Tyrone Spong is planning to join the ranks of top fighters next, and is doing everything he can to make sure he has success.

“The King of the Ring,” as he is known, is a disciple of kickboxing legend and former K-1 world champion “Mr. Perfect” Ernesto Hoost.  With Henri Hooft as his head coach, Spong has run through the competition in Muay Thai, compiling an incredible record of 104 fights, 99 wins and 70 KOs (5-losses, 1-Draw and 1-No Contest). Still only 25 years old, Spong is now ready to make the transition to a new frontier: MMA.

Born in Suriname, Spong and his family moved to the Netherlands when he was five. He made his amateur kickboxing debut in 2001, compiling an 8-1 record before making the decision to turn professional at the age of 16. Spong started off his career with a seven-fight undefeated streak to earn his first title, the W.K.N. Thaiboxing European Middleweight Championship.

December, 2005 saw Spong compete at the A-1 Combat Cup, where he landed three consecutive knockouts to earn his first tournament championship. The next year, he experienced two big victories in knockouts of respected Muay Thai veteran Joerie Mes and K-1 superstar Kaoklai Kaennorsing. Spong lost his first fight of 2007 before going on a tear through the remainder of the year and into 2008, winning thirteen straight fights. In the process, he garnered the SLAMM World 79kg title, the W.F.C.A. World Thaiboxing Cruiserweight belt, and the “It’s Showtime” 95MAX world championship. Overall, Spong has a total of nine world championships.

Spong is known as one of the most devastating strikers in his sport. The 6’2” athlete has competed in five different divisions in kickboxing, including lightweight, middleweight, cruiserweight, heavyweight, and super heavyweight. During the course of his eight-year career in the ring, Spong has garnered many kickboxing belts and trophies. He’s fought all over the world, and competed in the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix. Spong has also faced several fighters in kickboxing that are familiar to fight fans, including Jerome Le Banner, Ray Sefo, and Strikeforce® Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem. Yet, he is hungry for more. And that means putting all his talents, skills, and experience to use within the confines of MMA.

The father of three joined up with “Suga” Rashad Evans, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, Jorge Santiago, Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante, and the Villefort brothers, Yuri and Danillo, and others to become part of the Blackzilians. Considered a phenom in kickboxing circles, Spong’s addition brings an elite level of striking to the stable.

He made his successful professional MMA debut at the World Series of Fighting November 3, 2012 with a first round knockout.