February 17, 2026

Tokyo, Japan – K-1 has officially announced that three major world title fights will headline “K-1 GENKI 2026,” scheduled for Saturday, April 11 at the Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium in Tokyo.

The confirmed championship bouts are as follows:

K-1 WORLD GP Super Welterweight Championship (Vacant Title)

Jonas Salsicha (Brazil / TF Team / CT Allan Popeye)
vs
Darryl Verdonk (Netherlands / Fight Team Ringer)

Salsicha, a former WGP Kickboxing Super Middleweight Champion, stands at 191cm and earned international acclaim by winning the “K-1 WORLD MAX 2025 –70kg WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT,” defeating Ouyan Feng by decision, Jonathan Aiulu and Darryl Verdonk by knockout.

Verdonk, widely popular in Japan and known as “The Beautiful Werewolf,” previously advanced to the finals of the K-1 WORLD MAX Tournament after knockout victories over top contenders. He narrowly fell short against Salsicha in their previous meeting but now receives a highly anticipated rematch opportunity for the vacant championship.

Originally, reigning champion Ouyan Feng was scheduled to defend his title in a rematch against Salsicha. However, following Ouyan’s decision to relinquish the belt due to changes in his training environment, the K-1 Executive Committee has officially sanctioned this championship bout between Salsicha and Verdonk to determine the new Super Welterweight Champion.

This rematch is one of the most anticipated bouts among fans and is expected to deliver another electrifying encounter.

K-1 WORLD GP Heavyweight Title Match

Ariel Machado (Champion / Brazil / Hemmers Gym / Madison Team)
vs
Claudio Istrate (Challenger / Italy / Accademia NKT Team Saitta)

Machado, the reigning K-1 WORLD GP Heavyweight Champion, captured the title with three consecutive knockouts at the K-1 WORLD GP 2024 Openweight Tournament. He later secured the heavyweight belt with a knockout victory over Roel Mannaart in November 2025. Known for his eight-fight winning streak in K-1 (seven by KO), Machado has established himself as the division’s most dominant forces.

Istrate first gained international attention at the K-1 30th Anniversary Openweight Tournament in 2023, where he scored a knockout victory over Mahmoud Sattari. While his aggressive style and controversial bouts earned him notoriety, Istrate silenced critics in February of this year with a devastating first-round knockout victory over Babacar, reestablishing himself as a legitimate title contender.

With both fighters known for their knockout power, this matchup promises a high-impact contest where a single punch could determine the outcome.

K-1 WORLD GP Middleweight Championship (Vacant Title)

Dengue Silva (Brazil / Squadron Thai Brasil)
vs
Alfousseynou Kamara (Senegal / Emergence Le Havre)

Silva, nicknamed “The Scorching Big Mosquito,” reached the semifinals of the 2024 K-1 WORLD MAX Tournament and currently holds the Krush Middleweight title. In his most recent bout this February, he overcame a knockdown to secure a dramatic comeback knockout victory over Kacper.

Kamara, one of the feared “Twins” mentored by K-1 legend Jérôme Le Banner, made an explosive impact in K-1 competition with multiple knockout wins. After an unfortunate injury withdrawal during last year’s K-1 WORLD MAX tournament, he returned in February with a dominant first-round KO performance.

Both fighters are moving up from 70kg to compete for the 75kg middleweight title. Silva’s reach and power will clash with Kamara’s speed and explosiveness in what promises to be a dynamic championship showdown.

“K-1 GENKI 2026” will bring together elite strikers from around the world in one of the most anticipated events of the year.

■ Official Event Website
https://www.k-1.world/

■ About K-1
“K-1 WORLD GP” is a globally recognized striking martial arts organization featuring elite fighters across multiple weight divisions. The promotion is known for its championship title bouts and one-day tournaments that determine the strongest fighters in the world.