View source for Azem Maksutaj

{{BLP sources|date=April 2022}}
{{Short description|Swiss kickboxer (born 1975)}}{{Infobox martial artist
| name            = Azem Maksutaj
| native_name     =
| image           =
| image_size      =
| caption         =
| birth_name      =
| other_names     = The Black Eagle <br> The Warrior
| nationality     = Swiss
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1975|07|08}}
| birth_place     = [[Deçan]], [[Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo|SAP Kosovo]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]]
| fighting_out_of = Azem Kampfsport
| death_date      =
| death_place     =
| height          = {{convert|183|cm|ftin|frac=2|abbr=on}}
| weight          = {{convert|94|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}
| weight_class    = [[Lightweight]] <br> [[Welterweight]] <br> [[Middleweight]] <br> [[Super Middleweight]] <br> [[Light Heavyweight]] <br> Cruiserweight <br> [[Heavyweight]]
| style           = [[Kickboxing]]{{*}}[[Muay Thai]]
| rank            =

| years_active    = 1992–2010
| kickbox_win     = 76
| kickbox_kowin   = 57
| kickbox_loss    = 22
| kickbox_koloss  = 7
| kickbox_draw    = 2
| kickbox_nc      =
| other           =
| occupation      =
| spouse          =
| children        =
| relatives       =
| students        =
| university      =
| url             =https://www.azem.ch/
| updated         =
}}

'''Azem Maksutaj'''{{ref label|names|a|}} (born 8 July 1975) is a [[Swiss people|Swiss]] former [[Kickboxing|kickboxer]] of [[Kosovar Albanian]] origin. He competed in [[lightweight]], [[welterweight]], [[middleweight]], [[super middleweight]], [[light heavyweight]], [[cruiserweight (boxing)|cruiserweight]], and [[heavyweight]] divisions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Being Azem |url=https://dokufest.com/en/festival/2011/made-in-switzerland/being-azem |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=dokufest.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Originally from [[Kosovo]] (then part of [[SFR Yugoslavia]]), he relocated to [[Switzerland]] and began training in [[Muay Thai]] at fifteen. After winning the Swiss national title as a lightweight in his first year of competitions in 1992, he won the European and world honors in 1994 while fighting around the {{convert|77|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}} super middleweight mark. In the late 1990s, he moved between light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions, taking five world titles. He eventually moved to heavyweight in 2001, where he spent the remainder of his career, acting as a [[Journeyman (boxing)|journeyman]] in the [[K-1]] promotion and winning four other world titles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Azem Maksutaj {{!}} Fighter Page |url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/252346-azem-maksutaj |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=Tapology |language=en}}</ref> He won fourteen world titles in various weight divisions before retiring in 2010 with a hundred professional contests.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Azem Maksutaj {{!}} AZEM Kampfkunst {{!}} Winterthur & Wil |url=https://www.azem.ch/trainer/azem-maksutaj/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |language=de-DE}}</ref>

==Early life==
Maksutaj, a [[Kosovar Albanian]], was born in 1975 in [[Deçan]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]] (now [[Kosovo]]), as the second of four children. His father moved to [[Switzerland]] as a [[guest worker]] in the late 1970s, so Maksutaj saw him only sparingly while growing up. In 1990, at fifteen, Maksutaj and the rest of his family reunited with his father in [[Winterthur]], Switzerland, during the [[Immigration from the former Yugoslavia to Switzerland|wave of Yugoslav immigration to the country]]. Unable to speak the language and struggling to integrate, he soon began training in [[Muay Thai]] at the Wing Thai Gym to escape his troubles.<ref name="azem.ch">[http://www.azem.ch/index.htm Azem Maksutaj biography] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20120721222356/http://www.azem.ch/index.htm |date=July 21, 2012 }}</ref>

==Career==

===Career beginnings (1992–1997)===
After twelve months of training and his first year of competition, Maksutaj won the Swiss national Muay Thai -{{convert|63.5|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}} title in 1992 by beating [[Jesús Pérez (boxer)|Jesus Perez]], who was eleven years his senior by [[knockout]] in the second round.<ref name="azem.ch" />

At eighteen, he knocked out Sweden's Thomas Rasmussen on 7 May 1994, to win the European -{{convert|72.5|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}} [[Muay Thai]] title in his hometown of Winterthur. Later that year, he traveled to Milan, Italy, where he defeated local fighter Sergio Bertalozzi by a fifth-round knockout to claim the [[World Muay Thai Association]] World Middleweight (-{{convert|76.2|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) Championship.<ref name="azem.ch" /> He lost the world title to [[Perry Ubeda]] on 19 March 1995, in [[Nijmegen]], [[Netherlands]], after being knocked down three times in the first round."<ref>{{cite web |title=Azem Maksutai |url=http://www.wingthaigym.ch/Maksutaj.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615065100/http://www.wingthaigym.ch/Maksutaj.htm |archivedate=2015-06-15 |website=wingthaigym.ch |lang=de}}</ref>

On 10 June 1995, Maksutaj was invited to fight at Japan's ''[[K-1 Fight Night]]'', the first event held by the [[K-1]] promotion outside Japan, in [[Zurich]], Switzerland. There, he lost to [[Surinamese people|Surinamese]] veteran [[Orlando Wiet]] via a second-round knockout.<ref name="Fight record">[http://www.azem.ch/azemmaktusaj/kaempfe/detail.htm Fight record] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621011605/http://azem.ch/azemmaktusaj/kaempfe/detail.htm |date=2013-06-21 }}</ref> Returning to K-1 a year later at ''[[K-1 Fight Night II]]'' on 2 June 1996, he lost against [[Seidokaikan|Seido]] [[karate]] stylist [[Taiei Kin]]. He was knocked down in round two and lost by a [[unanimous decision]] after a five-round tussle.<ref name="azem.ch" /> He ended that year's campaign with a knockout of Faizal Reding on 2 November 1996, in [[Zurich]], to take the [[International Sport Karate Association]] World Super Middleweight ({{convert|78.1|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) championship.<ref name="Fight record" />

===Dominance at light heavyweight and cruiserweight (1998–2000)===
He defended his ISKA world title for the first time by defeating Frenchman [[Moussa Sissoko]] within three rounds in [[Winterthur]] on 7 November 1998.<ref name="Fight record" /> Following this, Maksutaj moved up to the [[light heavyweight]] class and returned to K-1, winning three world titles in five months in 1999. After his comeback to K-1 on June 5, 1999, at ''[[K-1 Fight Night '99]]'', where he earned his first victory in the promotion by flooring Winston Walker three times in the third round en route to a [[technical knockout]] win, he headed to [[Pula]], [[Croatia]], a month later to challenge double world champion Igor Ivošević. He knocked his opponent out in round four and won both the [[World Association of Kickboxing Organizations]]' Pro World Light Heavyweight ({{convert|81.4|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) and the [[World Kickboxing Association|WKA]] World Super Light Heavyweight ({{convert|83.2|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) belts.<ref name="azem.ch" /> Maksutaj closed the year out with a fifth world championship win, outpointing his [[Surinamese people|Surinamese]] opponent [[Ashwin Balrak]] for the World Professional Kickboxing League (WPKL) World Light Heavyweight (-{{convert|79|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) title in [[Sarajevo]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] on 11 December 1999.<ref name="Fight record" />

In 2000, Maksutaj moved back down to [[super middleweight]] to successfully challenge for the WKA World Super Middleweight (-{{convert|76|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) Championship, winning on points over Ivica Sukošić in [[Pristina]], [[Kosovo]].<ref name="Fight record" /> He then returns to light heavyweight and KO Aurélien Duarte in a World Professional Kickboxing Council (WPKC) World Light Heavyweight (-{{convert|79|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) title bout in [[Pavia]], Italy before moving up in weight once again to cruiserweight where he knocked out Eddy Corremans in round three to be crowned the WPKC World Cruiserweight (-{{convert|86|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) Champion in Winterthur.<ref name="Fight record" /> A rematch between Maksutaj and Faizal Reding was at ''[[K-1 Fight Night 2000]]'' on 3 June 2000, where Maksutaj won by TKO in round two.<ref name="Fight record" />

===Heavyweight division (2001–2010)===
In 2001, Maksutaj moved to the heavyweight division, kicking off his career by winning the WPKC World Super Heavyweight (+{{convert|95|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) Muay Thai Championship. Following this up with a defense of his WPKC Cruiserweight title against Hubert Lisovski in Winterthur,<ref name="Fight record" /> he had perhaps the biggest triumph of his career at that point when he defeated [[Clifton Brown (boxer)|Clifton Brown]] inside one round in front of over 100,000 spectators at the 2001 [[King's Cup (Muay Thai)|King's Cup]] at [[Sanam Luang]] in [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] on 6 December.<ref name="azem.ch" />

Maksutaj competed in eight one-night tournaments in K-1's heavyweight division over the next five years and debuted in the Grand Prix format at the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary Marseilles]]'' on 25 January. Having scored two first-round KOs over Abdel Lamidi and Ferenc Gasztany in the run-up, Maksutaj lost a [[majority decision]] to [[Grégory Tony]] in the final.<ref name="Fight record" /> On 13 April 2002, Maksutaj had a re-match with [[Vitali Akhramenko]] at the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary Croatia]]'' in [[Zagreb]]. The pair had fought to a draw five years earlier and did so again as the judges could not pick a winner after five rounds. He was granted a chance at revenge against Gregory Tony the following month at the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Paris]]'', but the Frenchman came out on top again by winning a five-round majority decision.<ref name="Fight record" /> 

Outside K-1, Maksutaj picked up the WKA World Cruiserweight (-{{convert|85.9|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) belt from Chino Mordillo in Zurich. He forced two [[standing eight count]]s on the Spaniard, initially by damaging his arm with a blocked [[roundhouse kick]], before defeating him with a high kick in round two.<ref name="Fight record" /> He ended the year on a low note, however, as he was handed his first stoppage loss in seven years by [[Peter Varga]] in [[Padua]], Italy on 30 November 2002, losing his WPKC Super Heavyweight Muay Thai title.

Maksutaj returned to [[Marseille]] to compete in the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Preliminary France]]'' on 24 January 2003. He knocked out Rob Lloyd in the quarter-finals and [[outpoint]]ed Miloš Kopták in the semis, before losing to his rival Gregory Tony for the third time in the final by unanimous decision.<ref name="Fight record" /> With K-1 heading back to Switzerland with the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Basel]]'' tournament on 30 May 2003, Maksutaj was invited as a participant along with seven other European heavyweights. He lost to Larry Lindwall at the opening stage.<ref name="azem.ch" /> In his next outing a month later, Maksutaj fought outside Europe for the first time, losing a unanimous judges' decision to Shingo Koyasu at ''[[K-1 Beast II 2003]]'' in [[Saitama (city)|Saitama]], Japan on 29 June 2003.<ref name="Fight record" /> Breaking a three-fight losing streak, he defeated Tihamér Brunner [[Decisions in combat sports|by decision]] on 13 December 2003, for the WMTA World Super Heavyweight title in a victorious homecoming to Winterthur.<ref name="Fight record" />

Fighting at the annual Marseille K-1 qualifier for the third year running, Maksutaj fought Aziz Khattou in a non-tournament bout at ''[[K-1 Marseilles 2004 World Qualification]]'' on 24 January 2004, and lost a [[split decision]].<ref name="Fight record" /> A rematch with Clifton Brown in Bangkok followed on 11 June 2004, and the outcome was the same, as Maksutaj stopped the Canadian inside the opening round.<ref name="Fight record" /> He fought [[Björn Bregy]] in Zurich on 25 September 2004. Maksutaj gave up around {{convert|32|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}} in weight. He was dropped with a right [[Cross (boxing)|cross]] at the beginning of the second round but made a comeback soon after when he knocked down his opponent with a right [[Hook (boxing)|hook]].<ref name="azem.ch" />

After losing to Christian N'ka in the opening round of the ''[[K-1 France Grand Prix 2005 in Marseilles]]'' on 19 January 2005, Maksutaj next competed in the ''[[K-1 Scandinavia Grand Prix 2005]]'' held on May 21 in [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]]. He was drawn against the three-time K-1 North American champion [[Michael McDonald (kickboxer)|Michael McDonald]] in the quarter-finals, and the two smaller, more technical heavyweights traded punches back-and-forth. In round two, McDonald forced a standing eight count on Maksutaj who then rallied back and floored him with a kick to the body. Round three saw the referee give McDonald another eight count when the Canadian took what was deemed too long to return to his feet after being pushed over by Maksutaj. After the regulation three rounds, the bout was ruled a draw and so an extension round was added to decide the victor, in which McDonald earned the majority decision win. Due to the fight, McDonald could not continue in the tournament.<ref name="azem.ch" />

A rematch between Maksutaj and McDonald was promptly booked for the quarter-finals of the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas II]]'' on August 13 and Maksutaj won by a unanimous decision. In the semis, he lost to Russian amateur standout [[Ruslan Karaev]] by unanimous decision after another bout. Round two saw him dropped with a spinning [[back kick]] to the body in the opening seconds and then a points deduction for kneeing Karaev in the face after he had slipped to the ground. Maksutaj was knocked down again in the final round after taking a knee from Karaev.<ref name="azem.ch" /> On September 24, 2005, in Winterthur, Maksutaj lost his WPKC World Super Heavyweight (+{{convert|95|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) K-1 rules title, an accolade he had won earlier in the year, to [[Gary Turner (fighter)|Gary Turner]] on points. Shortly after, though, he knocked out Radan Frenchichi in his hometown to be crowned as the ISKA World Heavyweight (-{{convert|96.4|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) Champion.<ref name="Fight record" />

On February 17, 2006, Maksutaj outfought [[James Phillips (kickboxer)|James Phillips]] to a unanimous decision at the ''[[K-1 European League 2006 in Bratislava]]''. Then, on May 20, 2006, at the ''[[K-1 Scandinavia Grand Prix 2006]]'' in Stockholm, he KO'd his former conqueror Larry Lindwall in two to win the WMC World Heavyweight (-{{convert|95|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}) Championship, his fourteenth and final world title belt.<ref name="azem.ch" /> After re-matching with [[James Phillips (kickboxer)|James Phillips]] in [[Lucerne]], Switzerland on June 3, 2006, and winning on points again, Maksutaj returned to the fight capital of the world and faced the stiffest test of his career in the form of [[Ray Sefo]]. Going down at the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Las Vegas II]]'' on 12 August 2006, Sefo sent Maksutaj to the canvas twice in round one, once in round two and twice again in three, forcing referee Steve Mazzagatti to stop the fight.<ref>[http://www.mmaweekly.com/ray-sefo-to-fight-on-k-1-vegas-card RAY SEFO TO FIGHT ON K-1 VEGAS CARD]</ref> He fared no better in his next match when he took on [[Jörgen Kruth]] at the ''[[K-1 World MAX North European Qualification 2007]]'' in Stockholm on 24 November 2006, as he lost by KO from a knee midway through the opening round.<ref name="Fight record" />

In an attempt to turn his fortunes around, he competed in the ''[[K-1 Rules Heavyweight Tournament 2007 in Turkey]]'' four-man competition in [[Istanbul]] on January 13, 2007, where he faced [[Kaoklai Kaennorsing]], a two-time [[Rajadamnern Stadium]] champion renowned for taking fights with much larger opponents and defeating the majority of them, in the semi-finals. Although Maksutaj had the size advantage for the first time in his K-1 career, he was unable to capitalize on this and lost by unanimous decision after an extension round. He struggled with Kaoklai's classical Thai style throughout and was given two contested counts, one in round two and another in the extension round, although both of these strikes seemed to be [[Low blow (combat sports)|low blows]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaoklai vs. Azem Maksutaj, K-1 Rules {{!}} Kickboxing Bout |url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/523844-k-1-rules-kaoklai-kaennorsing-vs-azem-maksutaj |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Tapology |language=en}}</ref> In his next outing on May 19, 2007, he lost by technical knockout against [[Nathan Corbett]], the eventual tournament champion, in the quarter-finals of the ''[[K-1 Fighting Network Scandinavian Qualification 2007]]'' in Stockholm.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fairtexnews.com/2007/05/31/rumble-of-the-kings-wmc-k-1-super-event-in-sweden/ |title=Rumble of the Kings – WMC K-1 Super Event in Sweden |access-date=2013-02-12 |archive-date=2015-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613175429/http://fairtexnews.com/2007/05/31/rumble-of-the-kings-wmc-k-1-super-event-in-sweden/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

Maksutaj returned to the local circuit to stop his losing streak and took several wins including a points victory over [[Erhan Deniz]] in [[Bratislava]], [[Slovakia]] on 7 September 2007, before returning to K-1 at the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Amsterdam]]'' on 26 April 2008, to face an up-and-coming [[Tyrone Spong]]. He got dropped from a knee to the body early in the opening stanza and was knocked down again with punches at the end of the round. The second knockdown did not count as he was saved by the bell, but Spong soon finished him with another knee strike to the body in the second, bringing Maksutaj's losing streak in K-1 to five.<ref name="Fight record" /> In one of his last fights before retiring, he was awarded a [[Disqualification (boxing)|disqualification]] win over Domagoj Ostojić after his Croatian opponent continued to punch and kick him after knocking him to the canvas in round one of their contest in [[Zadar]], Croatia on 11 May 2008.

Maksutaj made a brief comeback on 29 January 2010, knocking out Jean-Luc Ajinca in three rounds at Bern's [[Wankdorfhalle]].<ref name="azem.ch" />

==Personal life==
Maksutaj got married in Winterthur, Switzerland on 1 June 2007. His son was born a few weeks later. A documentary of his life and career entitled ''Being Azem'' was released in 2010.<ref name="azem.ch" />

==Championships and awards==

=== Kickboxing ===

==== European Muay Thai Association ====
* EMTA European Middleweight (-72.5 kg/159 lb) Championship

==== International Sport Karate Association ====
* ISKA World Super Middleweight (78.1 kg/172 lb) Championship
* ISKA World Heavyweight (-96.4 kg/212 lb) Championship

==== K-1 ====
* K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary Marseilles Runner-up
* K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Preliminary France Runner-up

==== Schweizerische Muay Thai Verbände ====
* SMTV Swiss Lightweight (-63.5 kg/140 lb) Championship

==== World Association of Kickboxing Organizations ====
* WAKO Pro World Light Heavyweight (81.4 kg/179 lb) Championship

==== World Kickboxing Association ====
* WKA World Super Middleweight (-76 kg/167 lb) Championship
* WKA World Super Light Heavyweight (83.2 kg/183 lb) Championship
* WKA World Cruiserweight (85.9 kg/189 lb) Championship

==== World Muay Thai Association ====
* WMTA World Middleweight (-76.2 kg/168 lb) Championship
* WMTA World Super Heavyweight Championship

==== World Muaythai Council ====
* WMC World Heavyweight (-95 kg/209 lb) Championship

==== World Professional Kickboxing Council ====
* WPKC World Light Heavyweight (-79 kg/174 lb) Championship
* WPKC World Cruiserweight (-86 kg/189 lb) Championship
* WPKC World Super Heavyweight (+95 kg/209 lb) K-1 Championship
* WPKC World Super Heavyweight (+95 kg/209 lb) Muay Thai Championship

==== World Professional Kickboxing League ====
* WPKL World Light Heavyweight (-79 kg/174 lb) Championship

==Kickboxing record==
{{Kickboxing record start|norec=y|title=Kickboxing record|record='''76 wins''' (57 KOs), '''22 losses''', '''2 draws'''}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2010-01-29 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Luc Ajinca || || [[Bern, Switzerland]] || KO || 3 ||
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2008-05-11 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRO}} Domagoj Ostojić || Obračun u Ringu 8 || [[Zadar, Croatia]] || DQ (attack on a downed opponent) || 1 ||
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2008-04-26 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|SUR}} [[Tyrone Spong]] || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Amsterdam]] || [[Amsterdam, Netherlands]] || KO (left knee to the body) || 2 || 0:45
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2008-00-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|BIH}} Senad Hadžić || Kings of Fullcontact || [[Bern, Switzerland]] || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2007-09-07 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Erhan Deniz]] || Noc Bojovnikov 4 || [[Bratislava, Slovakia]] || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2007-05-19 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Nathan Corbett]] || [[K-1 Fighting Network Scandinavian Qualification 2007]], Quarter Finals || [[Stockholm, Sweden]] || TKO || 2 || 2:40
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2007-01-13 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Kaoklai Kaennorsing]] || [[K-1 Rules Heavyweight Tournament 2007 in Turkey]], Semi Finals || [[Istanbul, Turkey]] || Extension round decision (unanimous) || 4 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2006-11-24 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Jörgen Kruth]] || [[K-1 World MAX North European Qualification 2007]] || [[Stockholm, Sweden]] || KO (right knee) || 1 || 1:30
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2006-08-12 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Ray Sefo]] || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Las Vegas II]] || [[Las Vegas, Nevada, USA]] || TKO (referee stoppage) || 3 || 2:02
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2006-06-03 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|GER}} [[James Phillips (kickboxer)|James Phillips]] || K-1 Gala in Luzern || [[Lucerne, Switzerland]] || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2006-05-20 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Larry Lindwall || [[K-1 Scandinavia Grand Prix 2006]] || [[Stockholm, Sweden]] || KO (right punch) || 2 || 1:51
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the [[World Muaythai Council|WMC]] World Heavyweight (-95 kg/209.4 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2006-02-17 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|GER}} [[James Phillips (kickboxer)|James Phillips]] || [[K-1 European League 2006 in Bratislava]] || [[Bratislava, Slovakia]] || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2005-00-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} Radan Frechichi || || [[Winterthur, Switzerland]] || KO || 3 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the [[International Sport Karate Association|ISKA]] World Heavyweight (-96.4 kg/212 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2005-00-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|POR}} Arthur Sequeira || || [[Winterthur, Switzerland]] || TKO (punches) || 3 ||
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2005-09-24 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Gary Turner (fighter)|Gary Turner]] || Fight Night Winterthur || [[Winterthur, Switzerland]] || Decision (unanimous) || 5 || 3:00
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Loses the WPKC World Super Heavyweight (+95 kg/209 lb) K-1 Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2005-08-13 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Ruslan Karaev]] || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas II]], Semi Finals || [[Las Vegas, Nevada, USA]] || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2005-08-13 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Michael McDonald (kickboxer)|Michael McDonald]] || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas II]], Quarter Finals || [[Las Vegas, Nevada, USA]] || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2005-05-21 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Michael McDonald (kickboxer)|Michael McDonald]] || [[K-1 Scandinavia Grand Prix 2005]], Quarter Finals || [[Stockholm, Sweden]] || Extension round decision (majority) || 4 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2005-01-19 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} Christian N'ka || [[K-1 France Grand Prix 2005 in Marseilles]], Quarter Finals || [[Marseille, France]] || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2004-09-25 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Björn Bregy]] || Fists of Fury 4 || [[Zurich]], [[Switzerland]] || KO (right hook) || 2 ||
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2004-06-11 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Clifton Brown (boxer)|Clifton Brown]] || K-1 Fight || [[Bangkok, Thailand]] || KO || 1 || 2:15
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2004-01-24 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|BEL}} Aziz Khattou || [[K-1 Marseilles 2004 World Qualification]] || [[Marseille, France]] || Decision (split) || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2003-12-13 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|HUN}} Tihamér Brunner || || [[Winterthur, Switzerland]] || Decision || 5 || 3:00
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the [[World Muay Thai Association|WMTA]] World Super Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2003-06-29 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} Shingo Koyasu || [[K-1 Beast II 2003]] || [[Saitama (city)|Saitama, Japan]] || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2003-05-30 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Larry Lindwall || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Basel]], Quarter Finals || [[Basel, Switzerland]] || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2003-01-24 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Grégory Tony]] || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Preliminary France]], Final || [[Marseille, France]] || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|For the [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Preliminary France|K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Preliminary France Championship]].}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2003-01-24 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|CZE}} Miloš Kopták || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Preliminary France]], Semi-Finals || [[Marseille, France]] || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2003-01-24 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rob Lloyd || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Preliminary France]], Quarter Finals || [[Marseille, France]] || KO || 1 || 2:03
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2002-11-30 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Péter Varga]] || Kickboxing Mondiale 3 || [[Padua, Italy]] || KO || 4 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Loses the WPKC World Super Heavyweight (+95 kg/209 lb) Muay Thai Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2002-00-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|ESP}} Chino Mordillo || || [[Zurich]], [[Switzerland]] || TKO (right high kick) || 2 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the [[World Kickboxing Association|WKA]] World Cruiserweight (-85.9 kg/189 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2002-05-25 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Grégory Tony]] || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Paris]] || [[Paris, France]] || Decision (majority) || 5 || 3:00
|-
|-  style="background:#c5d2ea;"
| 2002-04-13 || Draw ||align=left|{{flagicon|BLR}} [[Vitali Akhramenko]] || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary Croatia]] || [[Zagreb, Croatia]] || Draw || 5 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2002-01-25 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Grégory Tony]] || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary Marseilles]], Final || [[Marseille, France]] || Decision (majority) || 3 || 3:00
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|For the [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary Marseilles|K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary Marseilles Championship]].}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2002-01-25 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|HUN}} Ferenc Gasztany || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary Marseilles]], Semi Finals || [[Marseille, France]] || KO || 1 || 0:59
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2002-01-25 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} Abdel Lamidi || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary Marseilles]], Quarter Finals || [[Marseille, France]] || KO || 1 || 1:15
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2001-12-06 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Clifton Brown (boxer)|Clifton Brown]] || King's Cup 2001 || [[Bangkok, Thailand]] || KO || 1 ||
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2001-00-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} Hubert Lisovski || Winterthur Gladiator Fight Night || [[Winterthur, Switzerland]] || Decision || 5 || 3:00
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Retains the WPKC World Cruiserweight (-86 kg/189 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2001-00-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} David Ismalon || || [[Pavia, Italy]] || KO || 3 ||
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2000-06-03 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Faizal Reding || [[K-1 Fight Night 2000]] || [[Zurich]], [[Switzerland]] || TKO (punches) || 2 || 0:47
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2000-00-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|BEL}} Eddy Corremans || Winterthur Asia Fight Night || [[Winterthur, Switzerland]] || KO || 3 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the WPKC World Cruiserweight (-86 kg/189 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2000-00-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} Aurélien Duarte || || [[Pavia, Italy]] || KO || 4 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the WPKC World Light Heavyweight (-79 kg/174 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 2000-00-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRO}} Ivica Sukošić || || [[Pristina, Kosovo]] || Decision || 5 || 3:00
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the [[World Kickboxing Association|WKA]] World Super Middleweight (-76 kg/167 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 1999-12-11 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|SUR}} [[Ashwin Balrak]] || || [[Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina]] || Decision || 5 || 3:00
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the WPKL World Light Heavyweight (-79 kg/174 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 1999-07-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRO}} Igor Ivošević || || [[Pula, Croatia]] || KO || 4 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the [[World Association of Kickboxing Organizations|WAKO]] Pro World Light Heavyweight (81.4 kg/179.5 lb) Championship and the [[World Kickboxing Association|WKA]] World Super Light Heavyweight (83.2 kg/183 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 1999-06-05 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Winston Walker || [[K-1 Fight Night '99]] || [[Zurich]], [[Switzerland]] || TKO (punches) || 3 || 2:04
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 1998-11-07 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} Moussa Sissoko || || [[Winterthur, Switzerland]] || KO || 3 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Retains the [[International Sport Karate Association|ISKA]] World Super Middleweight (78.1 kg/172 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|- style="background:#c5d2ea;"
| 1997-00-00 || Draw ||align=left|{{flagicon|BLR}} [[Vitali Akhramenko]] || || [[Zagreb, Croatia]] || Draw || 5 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 1996-11-02 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Faizal Reding || || [[Zurich]], [[Switzerland]] || KO || 3 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the [[International Sport Karate Association|ISKA]] World Super Middleweight (78.1 kg/172 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 1996-06-02 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Taiei Kin]] || [[K-1 Fight Night II]] || [[Zurich]], [[Switzerland]] || Decision (unanimous) || 5 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 1995-06-10 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|SUR}} [[Orlando Wiet]] || [[K-1 Fight Night]] || [[Zurich]], [[Switzerland]] || KO (left punch) || 2 || 2:45
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 1995-03-19 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Perry Ubeda]] || || [[Nijmegen, Netherlands]] || KO || 1 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Loses the [[World Muay Thai Association|WMTA]] World Middleweight (-76.2 kg/168 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 1994-00-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|ITA}} Sergio Bertalozzi || || [[Milan, Italy]] || KO || 5 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the [[World Muay Thai Association|WMTA]] World Middleweight (-76.2 kg/168 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 1994-05-07 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Thomas Rasmussen || || [[Winterthur, Switzerland]] || KO (punches) || 4 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the EMTA European Middleweight (-72.5 kg/159 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 1992-00-00 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|SUI}} Jesus Perez || || [[Winterthur, Switzerland]] || KO || 2 ||
|-
! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the SMTV Swiss Lightweight (-63.5 kg/140 lb) Championship.}}
|-
|-
| colspan=9 | '''''Legend''''': {{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win |border=1px solid #CCFFCC}} {{legend2|#FFBBBB|Loss |border=1px solid #FFBBBB}} {{legend2|#c5d2ea|Draw/No contest |border=1px solid #c5d2ea}} {{legend2|White|Notes |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Notes==
 {| style="margin-left:13px; line-height:150%"
|align="right" valign="top"|a.&nbsp;&nbsp;
|{{note|names}}[[Albanian language|Albanian spelling]]: ''Azem Maksutaj'', [[Serbo-Croatian|Serbo-Croat Cyrillic]] spelling: Азем Максутај.
|-
|}

==External links==
* [http://www.k-1sport.de/en/database/show_fighter.php?id=101 K-1Sport profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maksutaj, Azem}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Albanian male kickboxers]]
[[Category:Swiss male kickboxers]]
[[Category:Kosovan male kickboxers]]
[[Category:Lightweight kickboxers]]
[[Category:Welterweight kickboxers]]
[[Category:Middleweight kickboxers]]
[[Category:Light heavyweight kickboxers]]
[[Category:Cruiserweight kickboxers]]
[[Category:Heavyweight kickboxers]]
[[Category:Albanian male Muay Thai practitioners]]
[[Category:Swiss male Muay Thai practitioners]]
[[Category:Swiss people of Albanian descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Albanian descent]]
[[Category:Swiss people of Kosovan descent]]
[[Category:Kosovo Albanians]]
[[Category:Albanian emigrants to Switzerland]]
[[Category:Kosovan emigrants to Switzerland]]
[[Category:People from Deçan]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from the District of Gjakova]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Winterthur]]