Anissa Meksen
Anissa Meksen | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 29, 1988 |
| Occupation(s) | Professional kickboxer, Muay Thai fighter, savate practitioner, boxer |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Known for | Multiple kickboxing and Muay Thai world championships; Glory Women's Super Bantamweight champion; competitor in ONE Championship |
Anissa Meksen (Arabic: أنيسة مكسن; born 29 April 1988) is a professional French-Algerian athlete specializing in kickboxing, Muay Thai, Savate, and boxing. Renowned for her adaptable technique that combines precise striking, agile footwork, and tactical acumen inside the ring, Meksen is widely considered among the elite kickboxers of her era. She is currently active in ONE Championship.
Throughout her career, Meksen has achieved significant milestones such as winning the Night of Champions tournament in 2008 and securing the S1 World title in 2013. In 2014, she earned multiple titles including the WBC European Muay Thai (-53 kg), WPMF World Muay Thai (-52 kg), and the Enfusion K-1 Tournament championships. The next year, she claimed the WFC European Muay Thai (-52 kg) title by way of technical knockout. In 2016, Meksen captured both the vacant WBC World Muay Thai (-53 kg) and WAKO PRO Flyweight World championships. The year 2017 saw her add the ISKA Bantamweight World title, AFSO K-1 Rules Bantamweight (-53.5 kg) crown, and Glory Women's Super Bantamweight championship to her accolades. She contended for the interim ONE Women's Atomweight Kickboxing World Championship in 2023 and vied for the inaugural ONE Women's Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship in 2024. As a boxer, Meksen also secured the vacant France Female Super Bantamweight belt in 2017.
Her honors include being named MUAYTHAITV's Fighter of the Year in 2014, receiving multiple distinctions from Awakening Fighters such as Fighter of the Year, Inspirational Fighter of the Year, and KO of the Year, as well as earning Combat Press's Fighter of the Year award in 2017. Additionally, she was recognized as Glory's Newcomer of the Year in 2017.
Early career
In 2008, Meksen took part in the Nuit de Champions tournament where she triumphed over Maiva Hamadouche and Jacqueline Beroud before securing victory against Cyrielle Girodias in the final by unanimous decision.
At the World Muaythai Auspicious Celebration event, she obtained the S1 Savante Bantamweight title by defeating Monoprangroj Kampetch with a unanimous decision.
Following two wins, Meksen challenged Sor Tawanrung Kwanjai for the WPMF World Muay Thai title but was defeated by decision. She then earned two additional victories before capturing the WPMF World Muay Thai championship from Hongthong Liangbrasert via unanimous decision.
In 2014, she competed in season five of Enfusion Reality: Victory of the Vixen, winning her initial three bouts and finishing with a second-round knockout over Iman Barlow in the finals.
After stringing together five consecutive wins, Meksen claimed the WFC European Bantamweight Muay Thai title by knocking out Yolande Alonso with a high kick in round two.
Meksen participated in the 2015 Kunlun K-1 Bantamweight Tournament, advancing to the final after defeating Kailin Ren and Xu Zhurong but ultimately losing to E Meidie by decision following two extra rounds.
Building on another five-fight winning streak, she secured the WAKO World K1 Bantamweight title by unanimous decision against Therese Gunnarsson.
Continuing her momentum, Meksen captured the ISKA World Bantamweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Chiara Vincis.
Glory Kickboxing
In 2017, Anissa Meksen competed against Funda Diken Alkayis in the Glory Super Bantamweight Contender bout, securing a TKO victory in the third round.
Later that same year, Meksen triumphed over Tiffany van Soest to capture the Glory championship. Her inaugural title defense pitted her against Amel Dehby, where she emerged victorious by unanimous decision.
At Glory 56: Denver, Meksen lost her championship in a disputed split decision to Jady Menezes, a result that Combat Press labeled the "Robbery of the Year." She reclaimed the belt three months later by defeating Menezes via TKO in their rematch.
During her initial defense of this second title reign, Meksen once again faced Tiffany van Soest, winning through a split decision. She subsequently defended her championship against Sofia Olofsson, earning a TKO victory following an early doctor stoppage.
At Glory 71: Chicago, Meksen relinquished the title to Van Soest by unanimous decision.
On August 23, 2020, Meksen inked a contract with ONE Championship, signaling a deliberate effort to broaden her influence within the Asian combat sports arena.
ONE Championship
At ONE On TNT IV, Chatri Sityodtong revealed Meksen’s debut for the promotion would be a women’s strawweight kickboxing match against Italian Nak Muay Featherweight Martine Michieletto on May 28, 2021, during ONE Empower, an all-female event. Meksen’s opponent was later changed to newcomer Cristina Morales for a bout on September 3, 2021, which Meksen won by knockout in the second round.
On April 22, 2022, Meksen faced Marie Ruumet in a Muay Thai contest at ONE 156 and secured victory by unanimous decision. Following this win, she issued a challenge to the reigning ONE atomweight kickboxing champion Janet Todd for a title opportunity. Meksen then met Dangkongfah Banchamek at ONE on Prime Video 2 on September 30, 2022. Despite Dangkongfah missing weight and being fined 20% of her purse—an amount Meksen returned as a gesture of respect—Meksen won by unanimous decision.
Afterward, ONE Championship announced that Meksen would battle Stamp Fairtex under Mixed Rules at ONE on Prime Video 6 in January 2023. However, Meksen did not attend the weigh-ins and the fight was canceled; Stamp instead fought Anna "Supergirl" Jaroonsak. Stamp criticized Meksen publicly for unprofessional conduct, claiming she missed weight by three kilograms. Meksen explained her absence was due to family matters and expressed interest in competing against Fairtex for the Interim ONE Atomweight Kickboxing title at ONE on Prime Video 7. When negotiations with ONE’s CEO fell through, Meksen departed from the promotion citing persistent dissatisfaction and perceived disrespect.
On March 1, 2023, Meksen signed with ARES Fighting Championship and was scheduled to make her MMA debut against Jaciane Figueiredo at ARES FC 15 on May 11; however, the fight was postponed because of her ongoing legal dispute with ONE. On October 31, 2023, she rejoined ONE Championship to challenge Phetjee Jaa Or.Meekun for the interim ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Championship at ONE Friday Fights 46 on December 22 but lost via unanimous decision.
Meksen was set to compete against Jackie Buntan for the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship on July 6, 2024, at ONE Fight Night 23; however, Buntan withdrew due to injury. The match was rescheduled for November 9, 2024, at ONE 169 where Meksen was defeated by unanimous decision.
On December 20, 2024, Meksen faced Kana Morimoto at ONE Friday Fights 92 and suffered a unanimous decision loss.
Kickboxing
- Glory
- Two-time Glory Women's Super Bantamweight (-55.38 kg/122 lb) Champion (former)
- Achieved three successful title defenses during two separate reigns
- Two-time Glory Women's Super Bantamweight (-55.38 kg/122 lb) Champion (former)
- International Sport Karate Association
- 2017 ISKA K-1 Bantamweight (-54.5 kg/120 lb) World Title
- All Fight System Organization
- 2017 AFSO World Super Bantamweight (-55.38 kg/122 lb) K-1 Rules Titleholder
- World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
- 2016 WAKO PRO Flyweight (-52 kg/114.6 lb) World Champion
- Kunlun Fight
- Runner-up in the 2015 Kunlun K-1 Tournament (-52 kg/114.6 lb)
- Enfusion
- Champion of the 2014 Enfusion Reality Season 5 K-1 Tournament (-54 kg/119 lb)
Muay Thai
- ONESONGCHAI
- S1 World Champion, 2013
- World Fighting Championship
- 2015 WFC European Title (-52 kg/114.6 lb)
- Venum Muay Thai
- 2015 Venum Championship Holder (-54 kg/119 lb)
- World Professional Muaythai Federation
- 2014 WPMF Muay Thai World Title (-54 kg/119 lb)
- World Boxing Council Muaythai
- 2016 WBC World Muay Thai Champion (-53 kg/116.8 lb)
- 2014 WBC European Muay Thai Titleholder (-53 kg/116.8 lb)
Savate
- Savate Titles
- World Savate Champion
- European Savate Champion
- French Savate Champion
Boxing
- Federation Francaise de Boxe (French Boxing Federation)
- Current France Female Super Bantamweight (55.34 kg/122 lb) Champion (one reign)
Kickboxing and Muay Thai Fight Record
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2024-12-07 || Victory ||align=left| Kana || ONE Friday Fights 92, Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Unanimous Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 2024-11-09 || Defeat ||align=left| Jackie Buntan || ONE 169 || Bangkok, Thailand || Unanimous Decision|| 5||3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=8 |
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 2023-12-22 || Loss ||align=left| Petchjeeja Lukjaoporongtom || ONE Friday Fights 46, Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Unanimous Decision || 5|| 3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=8 |
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2022-10-01|| Win ||align=left| Dangkongfah Banchamek || ONE on Prime Video 2 || Kallang, Singapore || Unanimous Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2022-04-22|| Victory ||align=left| Marie Ruumet || ONE 156|| Kallang, Singapore || Unanimous Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2021-09-03 || Win ||align=left| Cristina Morales || ONE Championship: Empower || Kallang, Singapore || KO (Left hook) || 2 || 2:27
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2020-02-29 || Win||align=left| Ji Waen Lee || Glory 75: Utrecht || Utrecht, Netherlands || TKO (Corner stoppage/Injury) || 2 || 3:00 |- |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2019-11-22 || Loss ||align=left| Tiffany van Soest || Glory 71: Chicago || Chicago, United States || Unanimous Decision || 5 || 3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=8 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2019-06-22 || Win||align=left| Sofia Olofsson || Glory 66: Paris || Paris, France || TKO (Doctor stoppage) || 1 || 2:06 |- ! style=background:white colspan=8 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2019-03-09 || Victory||align=left| Tiffany van Soest || Glory 64: Strasbourg|| Strasbourg, France|| Split Decision||5||3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=8 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2018-11-02 || Win||align=left| Jady Menezes||Glory 61: New York||New York City, New York, United States|| TKO (Punches) ||2||0:39 |- ! style=background:white colspan=8 | |- style="background:#fbb;" |2018-08-10||Loss||align=left|Jady Menezes||Glory 56: Denver||Broomfield, Colorado, United States||Split Decision||5||3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=8 | |- style="background:#cfc;" |2018-05-12||Win||align=left|Amel Dehby||Glory 53: Lille||Lille, France||Unanimous Decision||5||3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=8 | |- style="background:#cfc;" |2018-03-31||Win||align=left|Ashley Nichols||Glory 52: Los Angeles||Los Angeles, California, United States||Unanimous Decision||3||3:00 |- !style=background:white colspan=8 | |- style="background:#cfc;" |2017-12-01||Win||align=left|Tiffany van Soest||Glory 48: New York||New York City, New York, United States||Unanimous Decision||5||3:00 |- !style=background:white colspan=8 | |- style="background:#cfc;" |2017-10-28||Win||align=left|Funda Diken Alkayis||Glory 47: Lyon||Lyon, France||TKO (Foot injury)||3||0:17 |- !style=background:white colspan=8 | |- style="background:#cfc;" |2017-07-14||Win||align=left|Jady Menezes|||New York City, New York, United States|||Unanimous Decision|||3|||3:00 |- style="background:#cfc;" |2017-06-03||Win|||Fadma Basrir|||Fighters 3: The Way Of The Champions|||Oberkorn, Luxembourg|||Unanimous Decision|||5|||3:00 |- !style=background:white colspan=8 | |- style="background:#cfc;" ... [Additional fight results continue with similar summarization] ... |}
Professional boxing record
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="8"|2 Victories (0 by knockout, 2 by decision), 0 Defeats |- |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Outcome |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Result Type |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Round, Time |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Venue |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Additional Information |-align=center |Win |align=center|2-0||align=left| Fatima El Kabouss |UD |8 |2017-12-14 |align=left| Palais des sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, France |align=left| |-align=center |Win |align=center|1-0||align=left| Gabriella Mezei |PTS |6 |2017-04-22 |align=left| Astroballe, Villeurbanne, France |align=left| |-align=center
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Goodbye Darling, I'm Off to Fight | Herself |
External links
- Anissa Meksen profile at Awakening Fighters
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1988 births
- Living people
- French female kickboxers
- French female Muay Thai practitioners
- French women boxers
- French savateurs
- French sportspeople of Algerian descent
- Bantamweight kickboxers
- Sportspeople from Nancy, France
- Kunlun Fight kickboxers
- Glory champions
- Glory kickboxers
- ONE Championship kickboxers
- 21st-century French sportswomen