#Japan #Tokyo #K-1 WORLD MAX #Minoru Kimura #K-1 GP

K-1 World Max 2025 Opening Round Report

On September 7, 2025, the K-1 World Max 2025 -70kg World Championship Opening Round took place at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo. This thrilling event featured 17 matches, with 7 ending in knockouts, highlighting the intense competition that K-1 is known for.

The main event was the opening round of the -70kg World Championship tournament, gathering elite fighters from 16 different countries. As the tournament kicked off, 8 fighters emerged victorious, setting the stage for the final tournament to be held in November.

Match Results Overview

The results from the main card were as follows:

• - Match 10: Jonas Salsa from Brazil won against Salimkhan Ibragimov from Russia via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-27).
• - Match 11: Alfosenoo Kamara from Senegal achieved a stunning first-round TKO victory over Albion Molina from Germany.
• - Match 12: Aymen Rick from France outpointed Abiral Himalayan Cheetah from Nepal in a closely contested decision.
• - Match 13: Zola Akapyan from Armenia defeated Jonathan Aiulu from Samoa by unanimous decision, showcasing strong leg kicks and punches.
• - Match 14: Minoru Kimura, known as “Philip,” marked his comeback with a sensational KO victory over Mason Stroudman, finishing the match in the first round.
• - Match 15: Daryl Feldonk from the Netherlands won against Nurtilek Zhalinbekov from Kyrgyzstan via a dramatic second-round KO.
• - Match 16: Stoyan Koprivlenski from Bulgaria secured a unanimous decision against Denis Tap from Moldova.
• - Match 17: Ouyang Fen from China overcame Kasper Muszynski from Poland in a close decision.

Apart from the tournament, fans witnessed unforgettable matchups, including a much-anticipated HERO’S rules battle between Sina Kalimian from Iran and Blake Troop from the USA. This fight ended in an unusual stoppage due to an accidental foul, leaving the final decision pending.

Title Matches Highlights

The K-1 World GP Women's Atomweight Championship saw champion Aya Matsutani defeat challenger Akira Suematsu in a fiercely contested match, winning with a narrow judges' decision of 2-1.
In the K-1 World GP Super Bantamweight Title match, defending champion Kodai Kaneko successfully maintained his title against Koji Ikeda, winning by unanimous decision after an intense three rounds.

Producer Genki Sudo's Vision

K-1 Producer Genki Sudo addressed the audience, expressing his excitement about stepping into this new role after a long career as a competitor. He shared his aspirations to enhance the K-1 brand and promote world peace through martial arts, emphasizing collaboration with fans for a vibrant future for K-1.

Looking Ahead

As the excitement from the opening round settles, eyes will now shift to the final tournament scheduled for November 15, 2025, at the same venue. The eight fighters who triumphed in this opening round will compete for the ultimate title of world champion.

Watch the Action

For those who missed the live event, full match recordings are available on the K-1 official YouTube channel, and various broadcasting channels will replay the fights. Additionally, upcoming events are set, so fans can look forward to more thrilling matches as K-1 evolves.

Whether you are a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the world of K-1, the past event and the exciting future unfold before your eyes, ready to take martial arts entertainment to new heights!