Meet Israeli Champion and “Soldier of God”, Ahavat Hashem Gordon

Israeli kickboxer Ahavat Hashem Gordon returned home this morning (Monday), after his high-profile bout against a Turkish opponent, telling reporters, “It was a crazy week. Thank God I was able to win.”

Gordon defeated Turkish fighter Ali Koyuncu at Event 17 of the Lithuanian organization UTMA, with Koyuncu retiring at the end of the second round.

Congratulations to all my Israeli friends on Ahavat Hashem Gordon’s win over a pro-propaganda ‘Free Palestine’ Turkish MMA fighter 🇮🇱👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/Xs7VpYjcmI

— Jasem Aljuraid | جاسم الجريّد (@JJJuraid) February 22, 2026

 

Gordon’s first name is unique; it means “Love of God”, a common enough expression among Jews and Israelis but rarely – or never – used as a name.  True to its spirit, he said after the fight: “I am a soldier of God. Without Him, I am nothing.”

He also asked to dedicate his victory to his friend David, who passed away a few months ago. “It was sad,” he said of his friend’s death, “but if there’s something weighing on your heart – you shouldn’t keep it inside but talk about it.

People of Israel, I love you – this is for you”.

Fight Against Antisemitism

Speaking at a press conference upon landing, Gordon revealed that the fight was accompanied by a wave of hostility. “I received many antisemitic reactions about the fight,” he said. “Not only me, my family too. Even in the crowd there were incidents that shocked me, but I stayed focused.”

While he generally seeks to keep politics out of sports, Gordon said he felt he could not remain silent once his opponent brought political elements into the arena. “I always try to avoid bringing politics into sports, but when he brought it in, I couldn’t stay quiet. I’m happy it ended the way it did. It’s a privilege for me to have done this, that a Jew, an Israeli, with a kippah and tzitzit, raises the flag.”

At the press conference, Gordon elaborated on what took place in the ring after the match. “After the fight, I told my Turkish opponent not to mix politics with sports. I asked him why he did it. Nothing was for show. You need composure, you need to stay focused. If he had gotten into my head, I would have lost my balance. The fact that the fight was against an antisemite, with everything he wrote on social media, made it even more special. These are moments I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”

He reiterated that despite the charged atmosphere, he was determined not to be rattled. “If I had let it get to me, I would have come out unbalanced,” he said, emphasizing the discipline required to maintain control under pressure.

Ahavat Hashem’s History

Gordon is a professional fighter on the international stage, holding an impressive list of titles in kickboxing and Muay Thai. Among his achievements are a world championship in kickboxing, a European championship in Muay Thai, and a runner-up world title in Muay Thai. He has also previously won Israel’s youth championship and earned a bronze medal at the under-23 world championship.

He began training at a young age, growing up in a religious Zionist community within a strong Jewish environment. According to Gordon, entering the world of martial arts built his self-confidence and eventually became a full way of life, marked by strict discipline and an intense daily routine.

Throughout his career, Gordon has faced personal hardships, including the loss of his father and financial difficulties, yet he continued to compete. Following the October 7 attacks, he was in Thailand preparing for an international bout and entered the ring displaying Jewish symbols and the Israeli flag.

He later competed in ONE Championship, the world’s largest Muay Thai league, continuing to represent both Israel and his Jewish identity on the global stage.

Gordon defines himself as someone who carries Israel and his Jewish faith into every arena in which he fights, determined to stand firm in both his professional calling and his covenantal identity. A soldier of God.