November 18, 2025

K-1 Executive Committee

The K-1 Executive Committee, which oversees the operations of K-1/Krush events and affiliated gyms, held the K-1 WORLD MAX 2025: -70kg World Championship Tournament – Final Round on November 15, at Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. Elite fighters from around the world took part in the event, which featured 17 bouts in total—8 of which ended by knockout, delivering an action-packed night of fights.

Fight Result: https://www.k-1.world/archives/1748

＜Results Summary＞

In the main event of the evening—the -70kg Championship Tournament Final—eight of the world’s top fighters clashed in a heated tournament bracket. Jonas Salsicha (Brazil) emerged victorious with a stunning 1st round KO at 2:30 via a crescent kick against Darryl Verdonk (the Netherlands), winning the tournament title.

In the semi-finals, Verdonk scored a third-round KO over defending champion Stoyan Koprivlenski (Bulgaria) in Bout 12, while Salsicha advanced by knocking out Jonathan Aiulu (Samoa) in 33 seconds of Round 1 in Bout 13. After the final, Salsicha announced, “Becoming champion has been my dream since I was a child,” and went on to declare his intention to challenge the K-1 Super Welterweight champion Ouyan Feng.

Outside the tournament, the undercard bouts also delivered fierce battles.

In Bout 10, rising star and current flyweight champion Rui Okubo (Japan), who is riding a four-fight win streak, faced WLF standout Wu Yutong (China). From the opening bell, Okubo overwhelmed his opponent with sharp punches and front kicks before landing crescent kick to score a 1st round KO at 1:41, showcasing his dominance.

Bout 11 saw former champion Leona Pettas (Japan) take on Tomoya Yokoyama (Japan), who is rising from Krush to the K-1 main stage. Yokoyama dropped Pettas with a powerful left hook, maintained control throughout the bout, and earned a unanimous decision win (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

Three title bouts capped off the evening.

In Bout 14, the match to crown the 2nd K-1 WORLD GP Bantamweight Champion saw veteran Issei Ishii (Japan) defeat challenger Eito Kurokawa (Japan) in a back-and-forth bout, winning by unanimous decision (28-26 x3) to become the new champion.

In Bout 15, K-1 WORLD GP Heavyweight Champion Roel Mannaart (Netherlands) defended against Ariel Machado (Brazil). From Round 1, both men exchanged calf kicks and punches, but it was Machado who landed a devastating combination, scoring a knockdown before finishing the fight with a right hook KO at the end of Round 1.

In Bout 16, the fight for the 8th K-1 WORLD GP Super Lightweight Championship saw Taio Asahisa (Japan), who has adapted seamlessly to the new weight class, go to war with Krush Champion Shu Inagaki (Japan). Asahisa stood his ground throughout all three rounds, securing a majority decision victory (30-29, 29-29, 30-28) and becoming the new champion.

K-1 WORLD MAX 2025 – -70kg World Championship Tournament Final Results
Bout 17 – Tournament Final

Jonas Salsicha (Brazil) vs. Darryl Verdonk (Netherlands)
Result: Salsicha wins by KO (Crescent Kick) at 2:30 of Round 1, becoming the K-1 WORLD MAX 2025 champion.

In the tournament final, it was a showdown between the most destructive striker of the night, Jonas Salsicha, and the relentless pressure fighter Darryl Verdonk.

From the opening round, Salsicha came out aggressively, launching flying knees and left hooks while applying heavy forward pressure. Verdonk answered with right hooks and spinning backfists, starting a fierce back-and-forth battle. However, the momentum gradually shifted in Salsicha’s favor. After landing several clean right hands, he drove a crescent kick into Verdonk’s midsection, causing a knockdown.

Following the restart, Salsicha timed another devastating crescent kick to the body, dropping Verdonk for the KO finish. In just two and a half minutes, Salsicha made a dominant statement and claimed the K-1 WORLD MAX 2025 -70kg World Title.

After the fight, Salsicha expressed his determination:

“Winning this tournament has been my dream since I was a child. I was able to turn the support from fans in both Japan and Brazil into strength. My next goal is to take Ouyan Feng’s belt.”

Bout 12 – Tournament Semifinal: Stoyan Koprivlenski (Bulgaria) vs. Darryl Verdonk (Netherlands)

Result: Verdonk wins by KO in Round 3.

From the opening round, Verdonk applied constant pressure with powerful punches and low kicks, effectively closing the distance despite Stoyan’s diverse kicking arsenal. As the fight progressed, Verdonk’s punching combinations forced Stoyan to retreat, and in Round 3, he landed a clean right hook that scored a knockdown. Sensing the finish, Verdonk unleashed a relentless flurry of strikes, securing the KO victory and advancing to the tournament final.

Bout 13 – Tournament Semifinal: Jonas Salsicha (Brazil) vs. Jonathan Aiulu (Samoa)

Result: Salsicha wins by KO at 0:33 of Round 1 (Punch Combination)

After Zhora Akopyan was forced to withdraw, Jonathan Aiulu stepped in as a last-minute replacement. However, Salsicha showed no signs of hesitation, displaying overwhelming offensive power from the opening bell.

Charging forward with a relentless flurry of punches, Salsicha quickly scored a knockdown. Although Aiulu beat the count, Salsicha resumed his assault with a second wave of strikes, sealing a KO victory just 33 seconds, and advanced to the final.

Quarterfinal Summary (Bouts 6–9)

Bout 6 – Quarterfinal

Stoyan Koprivlenski (Bulgaria) vs. Hercules Wankhongohm WKO (Thailand)
Using a variety of kicks and punches, Koprivlenski controlled the pace and secured a clear unanimous decision victory.

Bout 7 – Quarterfinal

Alassane Kamara (Senegal) vs. Darryl Verdonk (the Netherlands)
Kamara, stepping in last minute, fought aggressively, but Verdonk maintained pressure through the extra round to win by unanimous decision (3-0).

Bout 8 – Quarterfinal

Ouyan Feng (China) vs. Jonas Salsicha (Brazil)
Salsicha dominated with flying knees and body shots, earning a unanimous decision victory over tournament favorite Ouyang Feng.

Bout 9 – Quarterfinal

Zhora Akopyan (Armenia) vs. Aymeric Lazizi (France)
Akopyan landed a sharp left to the body followed by a left hook, securing a TKO victory at 2:40 of Round 1, and advancing to the semifinals in spectacular fashion.