Andrey Sergeyevich Chekhonin (Russian: Андрей Сергеевич Чехонин; born 11 November 1988)[4] is a Russian kickboxer, karateka and savateur. As of May 2022, he was the #7 ranked middleweight kickboxer in the world by Combat Press.[5]
Kickboxing career
Checkhonin took part in the -80 kilogram event of the 2016 Tatneft Cup. Although he was able to stop Alim Ozhev in the quarterfinals, held on August 11, 2016, and Surik Magakyan in the semifinals, held on September 22, 2016, he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Nikolay Lushin in the tournament finals, which were held on November 11, 2016.[6][7]
Checkhonin participated in the 2017 Kung Fu World Cup two months later, as the one-day tournament for the KFWC Savate Pro World -80 kg title was held on January 24, 2017. He was able to overcome Nicola Gallo by unanimous decision in the semifinals, but suffered a split decision loss to Mehdi Kada in the finals.[8]
Checkhonin fought in the -80 kilogram event of the 2017 Tatneft Cup as well, but lost the semifinal bout against Sher Mamazulunov by an extra round decision, after he himself won an extra round decision against Dimitris Chiotis in the tournament quarterfinals.[9] Chechhonin would go on to lose two more fights, by decision to Mamuka Usubyan at Fair Fight IV on September 30, 2017 and by knockout to Artur Kyshenko at Kunlun Fight 68 on December 17, 2017.[10]
Checkhonin made his SENSHI debut against Aslan Saduakas at Senshi 2 on April 20, 2019.[11] He won the fight by a first-round knockout.[12] Checkhonin then captured the Senshi Middleweight tournament title with second-round stoppages of Mohammad Amin Asadi and Ruslan Nasibulin at Senshi 3 on July 3, 2019.[13]
Chechhonin faced the WAKO-Pro Low-Kick Rules Light Cruiserweight (-85.1 kg) World champion Abderrahim Chafay at Senshi 5 on February 22, 2020.[15] He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[16] A month later, Chechhonin took part in the Fair Fight Middleweight tournament, held at Fair Fight XI on March 21, 2020. He won the semifinal bout against Vladimir Degtyarev and the final bout against Gadzhi Majidov in the same manner - by decision.[17][18]
Chechhonin faced Mădălin Mogoș for the KWU Middleweight Championship at Senshi 6 on August 21, 2020. He won the fight by a first-round knockout.[19] Checkhonin then had his ten-fight winning streak snapped by Ali Aliyev at Battle of Champions 12 on November 13, 2020, who beat him by decision.[20] He rebounded from this loss by making two successful KWU title defenses, as he beat Anwar Dira by a second-round technical knockout at Senshi 7 on February 27, 2021, in his first title defense and Ricardo Fernandes by a first-round knockout at Senshi 8 on May 22, 2021, in his second title defense.[21][22]
