Tarik Khbabez

Tarik Khbabez (born 20 April 1992) is a Moroccan-Dutch kickboxer currently signed to Glory, where he is the Glory Light Heavyweight Champion. He won the Superkombat World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament in 2015 and competed in ONE Championship where he was a former ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing world title challenger. In 2021, he was the runner up for the Glory 77: Rotterdam Heavyweight Tournament.

He was ranked as the #1 light heavyweight by Combat Press as of May 2025, and #1 by Beyond Kickboxing as of May 2025.

Khbabez took part in the 2014 SUPERKOMBAT Qualification tournament. In the semifinals he beat Gurhan Degirmenci through a first round TKO. He defeated Dexter Suisse in the finals by unanimous decision.

He participated in the 2015 SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix. In the semifinals he defeated Nicolas Wamba by decision. Tarik won the final bout against Roman Kryklia by decision as well.

Tarik Khbabez made his ONE Championship debut on June 23, 2018 at ONE Championship: Pinnacle of Power, where he defeated Alain Ngalani by TKO at 1:43 of the third round.

On August 27, 2018, Khbabez signed a multi-fight contract with ONE Championship, where he would compete in the organization's all-striking ONE Super Series.

On October 26, 2018, he faced Ibrahim El Bouni at ONE Championship: Pursuit of Greatness. Khbabez won the fight by TKO via referee stoppage. On March 9, 2019, he picked up a unanimous decision victory over Andrei Stoica at ONE Championship: Reign of Valor. On June 15, 2019, he defeated Anderson Silva by unanimous decision at ONE Championship: Legendary Quest. At this point, Khbabez was 4–0 in ONE Super Series.

On November 16, 2019, Tarik Khbabez faced Roman Kryklia for the inaugural ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship. Going into the fight as a favorite, Khbabez lost by TKO in the second round.

On October 30, 2020, it was announced that Tarik Khbabez signed with Glory. Khbabez will make his promotional debut at Glory 77, against Antonio Plazibat. Khbabez was later rescheduled to face Levi Rigters in a four man heavyweight tournament. He beat Rigters by split decision, but lost the final bout against Rico Verhoeven by TKO. Three months prior to the tournament, Khbabez underwent hand surgery. He later revealed he had re-injured his hand during the final bout with Verhoeven.

Khbabez was scheduled to fight the #6 ranked Glory heavyweight Antonio Plazibat at Glory 78: Rotterdam. The pair was originally scheduled to fight at GLORY 77, before Plazibat withdrew due to injuries sustained in training.

Khbabaez was booked to face the Glory Light Heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov in a catchweight non-title bout at Glory 80 on March 19, 2022. Vakhitov withdrew from the bout on March 12.

Khbabez fought a rematch with Antonio Plazibat at Glory 80 Studio on May 14, 2022. He lost the fight by a third-round knockout.

Khbabez faced Sergej Maslobojev for the vacant Glory Light Heavyweight Championship at Glory: Collision 4 on October 8, 2022. He lost the fight by split decision.

Khbabez was expected to face Kristpas Zile at Glory 84 on March 11, 2023. Zile later withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Daniel Toledo. Khbabez won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.

Khbabez was expected to challenge Donegi Abena for the Glory Light Heavyweight Championship at Glory: Collision 5 on June 17, 2023. Abena withdrew from the fight with food poisoning on June 14 and was replaced by Mohamed Amine, who faced Khbabez for the interim Glory Light Heavyweight Championship. Khbabez won the fight by a fourth-round knockout.

Khbabez was expected to challenge Donegi Abena for the Glory Light Heavyweight Championship at Glory: Collision 6 on November 4, 2023. Khbabez withdrew from the fight with a hand injury on October 31, and was replaced by Mohamed Touchassie.

Khbabez challenged the Glory Light Heavyweight champion Donegi Abena at Glory Heavyweight Grand Prix on March 9, 2024. He won the fight by split decision.

Khbabez faced Pascal Touré in the quarterfinals of the Glory Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, held on June 8, 2024, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Khbabez suffered a second-round stoppage loss to the eventual tournament winner Donegi Abena in the tournament semifinals.

Khbabez made his first Glory Light Heavyweight Championship defense against Donegi Abena at Glory Collision 7 on December 7, 2024. He won the fight by split decision.

Khbabez made his second Glory Light Heavyweight Championship defense against Sergej Maslobojev at Glory 100 on June 14, 2025. He lost the fight by a fourth-round technical knockout.

Khbabez faced Bahram Rajabzadeh for the vacant Glory Light Heavyweight Championship at Glory 104 on October 11, 2025. He won the fight by majority decision.

Khbabez was born in Salé, Morocco. At a young age his family moved to the Netherlands, where he grew up in The Hague.

• Glory

  • 2024 Glory Light Heavyweight Champion (Two times, current)
    • One successful title defense
  • 2025 Fight of the Year (vs. Bahram Rajabzadeh at Glory 104)
  • 2024 Fight of the Year (vs. Donegi Abena at Glory Collision 7)
  • 2023 interim Glory Light Heavyweight Champion (One time, former)
  • 2022 Fight of the Year (vs. Sergej Maslobojev at Glory Collision 4)
  • 2021 Glory 77 Heavyweight Tournament Runner-Up

• SUPERKOMBAT Fighting Championship

  • 2015 SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix Winner
  • 2014 SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix IV Tournament Champion

Awards

• 2025 Beyond Kickboxing Fight of the Year (vs. Bahram Rajabzadeh)

• List of male kickboxers