Tel Aviv was the scene last week not only of a historic exhibition of martial arts, but of a dramatic declaration of faith that brought many in the Israeli crowd to their feet.
The Gordon Fight Nights (GFN 1) event saw Israeli phenom siblings Ahavat Hashem Gordon, Ruach Hashem Gordon, and Kibedy Gordon notch impressive victories again international opponents.
The fan favorite of the night, however, was undoubtedly Czech fighter Radek Štádler.
Štádler, a two-time kickboxing world champion, did not fight well and lost his match against the Israeli Zohar Hayut. But his post-match remarks sparked the loudest applause of the evening.
The Czech apologized to the crowd for fighting poorly, but went on to thank Israel for giving him something far more precious than a victory in the ring: faith.
Two-time kickboxing world champion Radek Štádler lost by knockout.
But his post-fight speech became the most powerful moment of the night.
„I was an atheist. But you took me to Shiloh and Jerusalem. I saw the path that Jesus took… and now I believe.“ pic.twitter.com/k1pGTucgKp
— ABLAZE FOR GOD🔥 (@AFG_0007) July 29, 2026
Štádler stressed that before coming to Israel, “I was an atheist. But you took me to Shiloh and to Jerusalem, and I see the path that Jesus took, and now I believe!”
“Thank you, I love you guys!” he said as the crowd erupted.
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