Denis Grachev

Biography Grachev was born in 1982 in the city of Chaykovsky, Perm Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. Grachev started training in kickboxing at the age of 14 and was trained by Gregory Golubkova, Mikhail Stepanov, Alik Basharov, Vyacheslav Tutubalina, Yuri Vtyurina and Vladimir Lavrov throughout the years. In 2005, Grachev graduated from the Chaykovsky State Institute of Physical Culture with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education.

In 2006, Grachev moved to San Diego, California, United States with Evgeny Khil — long-time friend and fellow kickboxer — after appointing Mark Dion of City Boxing as his manager. Grachev would represent City Boxing's professional fight team, as well as being the gym's kickboxing instructor. Although competing mostly under low kick/international and full contact rules, Grachev competed under Muay Thai rules while in the United States. Due to the lack of popularity of kickboxing in the United States, Denis Grachev eventually made the full-time commitment to boxing in 2011 and is primarily trained by former IBF minimumweight world champion Manny Melchor. Grachev states he has always enjoyed boxing, though resorted to kickboxing while growing up in Russia because there weren't any good boxing gyms in Chaykovsky.

Kickboxing career As an amateur in kickboxing, Grachev achieved a record of 123-18, with 40 of his wins coming by way of (T)KO.

After moving to the United States in 2006, Grachev competed in his first kickboxing bout under Muay Thai rules against kickboxing legend Manson Gibson on July 7, 2007. The bout was for International Kickboxing Federation's Muay Thai light cruiserweight world championship. Grachev went on to win the world title with a third round TKO over Gibson after Gibson's corner threw in the towel from too much punishment.

On November 29, 2007, Grachev took on WBC Muaythai light heavyweight world champion Joe Schilling — who is currently renowned for being a sparring partner of mixed martial arts world champion Nick Diaz. Grachev defeated Schilling with a 47-second knockout in the first round after Grachev delivered a spinning heel kick to the body, as Schilling was unable to beat the referee's 10-count. In result, Grachev won IKKC's vacant U.S. super middleweight national championship.

On December 11, 2009 (in a 6-round fight), Grachev fought to a controversial majority draw against Ernesto Castaneda in a fight where he was the effective aggressor, more ring-general, landed more punches and the harder punches in a majority of the rounds, and the fact that almost every ringside observer thought that Grachev had done enough to win. One judge scored it in his favour, with the other to judges scoring the fight even.

On July 4, 2011, Grachev went on to capture his first major championship in boxing when he defeated Eddie Caminero with a third round TKO and becoming the WBC Continental Americas light heavyweight champion. The bout took place in Bute's hometown. Despite a tough, solid effort over 12 rounds, Grachev lost by unanimous decision. Though some believed that Grachev won the majority of the rounds (and therefore the fight) with his sheer aggression and the fact that he landed more punches, most analysts and ringside observers agreed and believed that Bute had the upper hand throughout the bout, as he out-boxed Grachev throughout a majority of the rounds of the fight and managed to land the harder punches of both of the fighters.

On March 30, 2013, Grachev added another big name to his boxing resume when he fought Zsolt Erdei in a 10-round fight and defeated him via split decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Boxing Golden Gloves Ltd 2013 Monte-Carlo Million Dollar Super Four Tournament Runner-up World Boxing Council NABF Light Heavyweight Championship (One time) WBC Continental Americas Light Heavyweight Championship (One time) 2012 NABF Upset of the Year vs. Ismayl Sillakh on April 27

Kickboxing International Kickboxing Federation IKF Muay Thai World Light Cruiserweight Championship (One time) International Karate Kickboxing Council IKKC Muay Thai United States Super Middleweight Championship (One time) World BARS Kickboxing Federation WBKF Low Kick Commonwealth of Independent States -81 kg Championship (One time) WBKF Low Kick Commonwealth of Independent States -86 kg Championship (One time) World Association of Kickboxing Organizations 2005 WAKO Amateur World Championships Full Contact Light Heavyweight Gold Medalist 2000 WAKO Amateur Junior World Championships Low Kick Light Middleweight Gold Medalist World Kickboxing Association/International Amateur Kickboxing Sports Association 2004 WKA/IAKSA Amateur World Championships Low Kick Light Heavyweight Bronze Medalist Kickboxing Federation of Russia 2006 Russia Amateur National Championships Full Contact Bronze Medalist 2006 Russia Amateur National Championships Low Kick Gold Medalist 2006 Russia Amateur National Championships Light Contact Gold Medalist 2005 Russia Amateur National Championships Full Contact Gold Medalist 2004 Russia Amateur National Championships Light Contact Gold Medalist 2001 Cup of Peter International Tournament Low Kick Gold Medalist Federal Executive Body in the Field of Physical Culture & Sports International Master of Sport (2001)

Professional boxing record

Loss 13–5–1 Thomas Oosthuizen

Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa Loss 13–4–1 Ryno Liebenberg

Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa Loss 13–3–1 Isaac Chilemba

Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S. Loss 13–2–1 Edwin Rodriguez

Salle des Etoiles, Monte-Carlo, Monaco Win 13–1–1 Zsolt Erdei

Salle des Etoiles, Monte-Carlo, Monaco Loss 12–1–1 Lucian Bute

Centre Bell, Montréal, Québec, Canada Win 12–0–1 Ismayl Sillakh

Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas, U.S. Win 11–0–1 Eddie Caminero

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida, U.S. Win 10–0–1 Vladine Biosse

Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S. Win 9–0–1 Azea Augustama

Magic City Casino, Miami, Florida, U.S. Draw 8–0–1 Ernesto Castaneda

Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. Win 8–0 Roberto Baro

Four Points Sheraton Hotel, San Diego, California, U.S. Win 7–0 Carlos Raul Ibarra

Four Points Sheraton Hotel, San Diego, California, U.S. Win 6–0 Ayodeji Fadeyi

4th and B, San Diego, California, U.S. Win 5–0 Thomas Haines

Four Points Sheraton Hotel, San Diego, California, U.S. Win 4–0 Caleb Caldwell

4th and B, San Diego, California, U.S. Win 3–0 Freeman Taft

Oceanview Pavilion, Port Hueneme, California, U.S. Win 2–0 Robert Ryan

Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, U.S. Win 1–0 Rosendo Rubalcaba

Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, California, U.S.

Kickboxing record (incomplete)

WCK: Full Rules Muay Thai

WCK: Full Rules Muay Thai

WCK: Full Rules Muay Thai

BARS: CIS Middleweight Championship 2006

BARS: Eurasian Super Heavyweight Championship 2006

BARS: Yashinov vs Zhuravlev

BARS: European Welterweight Championship 2006

BARS: European Super Heavyweight Championship 2006

World BARS Kickboxing Federation

BARS: Zdragush vs Podolyachin

World BARS Kickboxing Federation

World BARS Kickboxing Federation

BARS: Shvoev vs Tsgoev

World BARS Kickboxing Federation

World BARS Kickboxing Federation

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Ricardo Funch Decision (unanimous) Cage Fight MMA 2: Blunt Force Trauma

Manchester, New Hampshire, United States Win

Daniel McWilliamson Submission (guillotine) Fist Series: WinterFist 2008

Irvine, California, United States Win

Chris Reed TKO (punches) Primal MMA: Noche de los Muertos

Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Win

Kevin Greenwall Submission (guillotine) Ultimate Combat Experience: Round 27 - Finals

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States