Michael McDonald (kickboxer)

Michael was born in Birmingham to a Jamaican family, he was raised in Mandeville, Jamaica until age ten when his family later immigrated to Canada, he grew up in Edmonton, Alberta during his school years. While growing up Michael was active in a variety of sports including track and field, football, soccer, baseball and wrestling. At the age of 17 a friend introduced him to Muay Thai.

In 1996 Michael entered the K-1 fighting network and started to train with the 1992 Karate World Cup Champion, Andy Hug. He stayed with "Team Andy" for 3 years fighting in the K-1 Grand Prix throughout the world.

In 2000 Michael stunned a crowd of 35,000 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Fukuoka by winning a unanimous decision over the heavily favored Nicholas Pettas. In 2002, Michael won both K-1 tournaments held in that year in United States, K-1 USA Grand Prix 2002 and K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Las Vegas. On December 7, 2002 he was selected for K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Finals first reserve fight against Martin Holm.

In 2004 he re-claimed the K-1 USA 2004 North American Grand Prix Championship. He was knocked down by Marvin Eastman in the first round of the quarter finals, but got up and dispatched his opponent with a KO in the second round. Scoring another second-round KO in the semi-final against Kelly Leo, McDonald advanced to the final. In front of a packed house of 6,000 fans at The Bellagio in Las Vegas, Michael dispatched Dewey Cooper to win the title for the third time in three years. The award was presented to McDonald by Muhammad Ali accompanied by Mike Tyson.[2]

On August 12, 2006 he returned to Las Vegas for fifth time to re-claim the title. He won first two fights over Ariel Mastov and Imani Lee and reached the tournament finals once again but lost the title fight against Stefan Leko.

Michael has had two mixed martial arts fights, first against Lyoto Machida where he lost by submission (forearm choke) and next fight against fellow kickboxer Rick Roufus where he won by unanimous decision.

• 2006 K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas II Runner Up
• 2004 K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas I Champion
• 2003 K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas II Runner Up
• 2002 K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas Champion
• 2002 K-1 World Grand Prix Preliminary USA Champion
• 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix Preliminary USA Runner Up
• W.K.C. World Cruiser Weight Champion
• W.K.A. North American Heavyweight Champion
• Canadian Heavyweight Champion

• List of K-1 events
• List of male kickboxers

• Profile at K-1