Ognjen Topic
Ognjen Topic (Serbian: Oгњен Топић; born February 1, 1986) is a Serbian-born American Muay Thai kickboxer. He holds several Muay Thai world titles and has fought some of the sport's top competitors.
Ognjen Topic | |
---|---|
Born | Jajce, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia | February 1, 1986
Native name | Oгњен Топић |
Nationality | |
Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) |
Weight | 65.0 kg (143.3 lb; 10.24 st) |
Style | Muay Thai |
Fighting out of | New Jersey, United States |
Team | North Jersey Muay Thai Eminent Air Gym P.K. Saenchai Muaythai Gym |
Kickboxing record | |
Total | 61 |
Wins | 36 |
Losses | 23 |
Draws | 2 |
Ognjen Topic is a three-time world champion in Muay Thai.[1] Topic is also a former Lion Fight World Champion, having earned the title in 2013.[2][3] He was named "Professional Rookie of the Year" at the Muay Thai Authority Awards in 2011.[4] He is also a World Boxing Council (WBC) North American Super Featherweight Champion and World Kickboxing Association (WKA) North American Lightweight Champion.
Background
Topic was born into an ethnic Serb family in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His family fled the Bosnian War, first finding refuge in Serbia. Ognjen's father traveled to America to support the family financially. Later he won a U.S. green card through the immigration lottery. The family emigrated to the United States when Ognjen was nine years old.
Also a professional graphic designer, Topic graduated from William Paterson University with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art.[3]
Muay Thai career
Overview
Topic is a resident of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey[5] and has been training at the North Jersey Muay Thai gym since 2005.[6] A few years later, he trained at the Eminent Air Gym in Bangkok, Thailand, one of the top Muay Thai gyms in the country. Most recently, he has also trained at the P.K. Saenchai Muaythai Gym.[7]
A professional Muay Thai athlete with over 50 professional fights, Topic has fought a number of competitors from Thailand. He has been in the ring with Saenchai (Ch 7 Champion), Paowarit Sasiprapa (Lumpinee Boxing Stadium Champion), Dechsakdaa Sitsongpeenong (Ch 7 Champion), Rungravee Sasiprapa (Lumpinee Stadium Champion), Dechsakda Sitsongpeenong (Ch 7 Champion) and Nontakit Tor. Mor. Sri.
2004 - 2005
Topic began his Muay Thai training when he was 18 years old at what is today known as the North Jersey Muay Thai gym.[8] He had his first fight after two years of training.
2007
Topic made his debut on "Friday Night Fights" in the basement of a church in New York City.
2013
Topic quit his fulltime job in graphic design in order to focus on his fighting career.
On March 15, 2013, Ognjen Topic made his Lion Fight debut at Lion Fight 9, facing former Lumpinee Stadium champion Paowarit Sasiprapa. He won the fight in upset fashion by head kick KO at 7 seconds of the third round.[9]
2014 - 2017
Topic has become one of America's better known Super Featherweights. During this time, he has become a Muay Thai Grand Prix title holder, Lion Fight World Champion, WBC National Champion and WKA National/World Champion.
On September 26, 2015, he defeated Stephen Meleady at Lion Fight 24 to win the Lion Fight Lightweight World Championship.[10]
On February 27, 2016, Topic lost the Lion Fight Lightweight World Title to Sergio Wielzen via TKO at Lion Fight 28.[11]
In 2017, Topic fought Tum Sityodtong in the main event for Triumph Kombat 3 at Madison Square Garden.[12]
On July 8, 2017, he defeated Paul Barber in the United Kingdom to become the Muay Thai Grand Prix Lightweight Champion.[13][14]
2018
On March 2, 2018, Topic defeated Travis Clay by unanimous decision to win the Friday Night Fights Lightweight Championship.[15]
Later on, he signed with ONE Championship to compete in the all-striking ONE Super Series. Topic made his promotional debut on May 12, 2018 at ONE Championship: Grit and Glory, defeating Stergos Mikkios by unanimous decision.[16]
However, Ognjen Topic would go 0–3 in his next three fights in ONE Championship. He faced Tukkatatong Petpayathai at ONE Championship: Beyond The Horizon.[17] However, Topic was outmatched by the former Lumpinee Stadium and Rajadamnern Stadium champion, losing by unanimous decision.[18]
2019
Looking to bounce back, Ognjen Topic next faced Saemapetch Fairtex at ONE Championship: Roots of Honor on April 12, 2019. He was outpointed in the first two rounds but when Saemapetch slowed down in the third round, Topic was able to land some significant elbows. However, it proved too late as Topic still lost by majority decision.[19]
Riding on the momentum of a decision victory over Petchtongkam Bangkok-Alaigym at Lumpinee Stadium, Ognjen Topic faced Alaverdi Ramazanov at ONE Championship: Dreams of Gold on August 16, 2019. However, being outsized, Topic found himself being floored 3 times en route to a first-round TKO loss.[20]
Topic is currently focused on fighting internationally, teaching seminars and being a personal trainer. His home base is still at the North Jersey Muay Thai gym where he first began his training.
Championships and awards
- Friday Night Fights
- Friday Night Fights Lightweight World Champion
- Most "Fight of the Night" honors in Friday Night Fights history
- WBC Muaythai
- WBC Muaythai North American Super Featherweight Champion
- Muay Thai Grand Prix
- Muay Thai Grand Prix Lightweight World Champion
- Lion Fight
- Lion Fight Lightweight World Champion
- Muay Thai Authority
- 2011 North American Professional Rookie of the Year
- Muay Thai is Life
- 2011 Break through Fighter of the Year
- New Jersey Martial Arts Hall of Fame
- 2012 Fighter of the Year
Muay Thai record
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36 Wins, 23 Losses, 2 Draws
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes |
References
- http://www.ufc.com/news/UFC-FIGHT-PASS-stream-live-Muay-Thai-boxing-tonight
- "Lion Fight Promotions » Ognjen Topic Inks Exclusive Multi-Fight Deal With Lion Fight". www.lionfight.com.
- "Getting to Know Muay Thai Fighter Ognjen Topic - NewYorkFighting.com". 8 June 2017.
- http://muaythaiauthority.blogspot.ca/2011/12/2011-muay-thai-authority-awards.html
- Ognjen Topic, New Jersey State Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Accessed January 24, 2018. "Ognjen Topic is a Muay Thai fighter from Pompton Lakes who trains with North Jersey Muay Thai in Lodi."
- "North Jersey Muay Thai". www.northjerseymuaythai.net.
- "Elite Training Partners Have Prepared Ognjen Topic For Success In Bangkok". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. 2019-08-10. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- "The Prime Topic: An interview with Ognjen Topic". 29 October 2014.
- "Lion Fight 9: Simon Marcus defeats Artem Levin". World Muaythai Council. 2013-03-25. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- "Lion Fight 24: Results and Highlights". Muay Thai GP. 2015-09-26. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- "Lion Fight 28: Highlights and Results". Muay Thai GP. 2016-02-27. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- "Triumph Kombat 3 Results: Ognjen Topic vs. Tum Sityodtong". 9 June 2017.
- "Ognjen Topic - Muay Thai Grand Prix".
- http://epokagency.com/ognjen-topic-crowned-mtgp-world-champion/
- "Friday Night Fights Results: Topic Bests Clay, Sheridan Tops Zawistowski". Combat Press. 2018-03-02. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- "ONE Championship: Grit And Glory – Fight Results". Perfect Kickboxing. 2018-05-12. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- "Ognjen Topic Believes He Has A Distinct Advantage Over Tukkatatong Petpayathai". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. 2018-08-18. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- "Tukkatatong Petpayathai Out-Duels Ognjen Topic In Shanghai". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- "Saemapetch Fairtex Takes Majority Decision In Thriller With Ognjen Topic". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. 2019-04-12. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- "Alaverdi Ramazanov Drops Ognjen Topic 3 Times To Get First-Round TKO". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2020-01-30.