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Blood Diamond out to create history in King in the Ring swansong
Stephen Foote • June 12th, 2025 12:00 pm
Blood Diamond | Photo: Photosport
Kiwi combat sport veteran Blood Diamond will attempt to join an exclusive club this weekend, when he steps through the ropes at Saturday's King in the Ring.
The 35-year-old will attempt to become a three-time champion at the iconic NZ fight tournament, a milestone previously achieved by only City Kickboxing teammates Israel Adesanya and Nikora Lee-Kingi.
The former UFC welterweight is confident he still has all of the tools to - yet again - take the crown home from Auckland's Eventfinda Stadium in what may be his final appearance in the format.
“I’m throwing down the gauntlet,” said Diamond.
“I’m still fresh and capable of giving the young guns a hurry-up. I feel as strong as I ever have and have plenty of tricks in my kit bag.
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"I expect them to come hard, and try and knock the old dog out of the yard. But I’m here to show I’ve still got it.”
The 110-fight campaigner will have his work cut out for him against an eight-strong field of light heavyweights, with the unorthodox Chris 'Cobra 'Eades and Kawhia's Tokomaru Taylor shaping as his most dangerous rivals
The Zimbabwean-born, NZ-raised Blood Diamond has been a fixture at Auckland's City Kickboxing, where head trainer Eugene Bareman quickly noticed his natural affinity for striking.
He's since made the transition to MMA, immediately finding success on the local stage, earning him a call-up to the bright lights of the UFC.
With the curtain to his career drawing closer, Blood Diamond will revert to his beloved kickboxing for one last tilt at a title.
Whatever happens this weekend, Bareman says 'Bloods' is a quintessential Kiwi success story.
“Here’s a guy who walked into our gym at over 110 kgs, slept under the cage while he figured out life, and built himself into a world champion," said Bareman, trainer of multiple world champions in multiple disciplines.
"He’s fought all over the planet, made it to the UFC, and now runs his own food prep business.
"That's a successful man, in every sense of the word."
