August 21, 2026

K-1 has officially announced the matchups for the opening round of the K-1 WORLD MAX 2026 -70kg World Tournament, which will bring together top fighters from around the globe to determine the best -70kg fighter in the world.

K-1 WORLD MAX 2026 will take place on Saturday, September 12, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan.

The event will feature a highly anticipated clash between last year’s world champion Jonas Salsicha and Zhora Akopyan, who was regarded as a tournament favorite last year before being forced to withdraw. The lineup also includes some of the world’s top fighters, including last year’s runner-up Darryl Verdonk and former GLORY World Champion Serhiy Adamchuk.

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Last year, Akopyan displayed overwhelming strength in his opening tournament bout, but was forced to withdraw midway through the tournament due to injury. The “dream matchup” that would have taken place had he not withdrawn will now finally become a reality in the opening round.

K-1 WORLD MAX 2026 -70kg World Tournament Opening Round ①

Jonas Salsicha (Brazil) vs. Zhora Akopyan (Armenia)

Standing 191cm tall, Salsicha is known as the Brazilian Colossus. In the K-1 WORLD MAX 2025 -70kg World Tournament, he defeated Ouyan Feng, Jonathan Aiulu, and Darryl Verdonk to win the tournament championship for the first time. Now, as the defending champion, he will look to win for a consecutive year.

Akopyan knocked out Aymeric Lazizi with a left hook in the quarterfinals of the -70kg WORLD MAX tournament in November 2025, but was forced to withdraw from the semifinals due to injury. He made his successful return in his most recent bout against Kazuki Matsumoto.

The two were originally scheduled to meet in the semifinals of last year’s tournament, but Akopyan’s injury prevented the highly anticipated matchup from taking place. Akopyan is skilled at dealing with taller opponents, making him a potentially difficult stylistic matchup for Salsicha. If there is going to be a major upset in the opening round, this could be the fight where it happens.

The People’s Champion vs. Italy’s Muay Thai World Champion

K-1 WORLD MAX 2026 -70kg World Tournament Opening Round ②

Darryl Verdonk (Netherlands & Indonesia) vs. Lorenzo Di Vara (Italy)

▪️Another Classic in the Making!

Verdonk has shown the spirit of K-1 by consistently delivering unforgettable battles that stir the emotions of fans. Standing in his way is Lorenzo, who fought his way through a stacked Italian qualifier.

Verdonk knocked out Stoyan Koprivlenski in the semifinals of last year’s K-1 WORLD MAX World Tournament, before battling Jonas Salsicha for the championship in the final. This April, he faced Salsicha again and pushed him to the brink by nearly knocking the champion out.

Di Vara is the ISKA Muay Thai World Super Welterweight (-70kg) Champion who emerged victorious from the Italian qualifier. In the World Final Qualifier held in Fukuoka, he defeated Spanish qualifier winner Sergio Sanchez by decision.

With his proven track record in K-1, Verdonk will be looking for a dominant victory here as he continues his pursuit of K-1 gold that narrowly eluded him again and again. However, Di Vara is a highly technical fighter who excels at circling and positioning. Against Verdonk’s high-volume offense, Di Vara could land a devastating counter and pull off a major upset.

The Polish Samurai vs. Former GLORY World Champion

K-1 WORLD MAX 2026 -70kg World Tournament Opening Round ③

Kacper Muszynski (Poland) vs. Serhiy Adamchuk (Ukraine)

▪️Muszynski Returns for REVENGE Against a Former World Champion!

After suffering a disappointing opening-round elimination last year, Muszynski returns to the -70kg division with revenge on his mind. Standing across from him will be Adamchuk, a former world champion who once stood at the top of the sport.

Muszynski suffered a narrow decision loss to Ouyang Feng in the opening round of the 2025 K-1 WORLD MAX World Tournament. He then endured another setback in February 2026, when Dengue Silva came from behind to knock him out. However, Muszynski successfully bounced back this May with a technical knockout victory over Seiya Tanigawa.

Adamchuk made his K-1 debut in 2015 before going on to compete primarily in GLORY. In 2019, he scored a technical knockout victory over Abraham Vidales, and in December 2022, he faced Kento Haraguchi. This April, he returned to K-1 for the first time in 11 years at the Romanian Qualifier and won the tournament.

Muszynski had previously moved up to 75kg, but will now drop back down to 70kg for this fight. How much of his previous performance level he can maintain after returning to the 70kg division?

Adamchuk, meanwhile, displayed all the craftiness and experience of a seasoned veteran during the Romanian Qualifier. The key question will be whether Adamchuk can use his technical skill and ring savvy to neutralize Muszynski’s relentless pressure.

【Other Confirmed Bouts】

■ K-1 WORLD MAX 2026 -70kg World Tournament Opening Round ④ Stoyan Koprivlenski (Bulgaria) vs. Vladimir Tulaev (Russia)

Koprivlenski captured his first K-1 WORLD MAX championship in the 2024 K-1 WORLD MAX -70kg World Tournament, defeating Buakaw Banchamek, Dengue Silva, and Viktor Akimov. In the 2025 tournament, however, he suffered a come-from-behind knockout loss to Darryl Verdonk in the quarterfinals.

Tulaev won the 2024 Kunlun Fight -70kg Tournament. This year, he defeated 3 fighters in one night, including Rostislav Varnavskyi in the Russian Qualifier to earn his place in the FINAL 16.

Since his championship run in 2024, Koprivlenski has struggled to recapture the same level of success despite coming close. If he can correct the mistakes that have left him vulnerable to fight-changing shots, he has every chance of returning to the top. Tulaev, however, possesses hooks capable of ending a fight with a single blow, and the fact that he emerged victorious from a highly competitive Russian Qualifier makes him a dangerous opponent. With Koprivlenski in a must-win situation and Tulaev carrying plenty of momentum, this matchup has all the ingredients for an intense battle.

■ K-1 WORLD MAX 2026 -70kg World Tournament Opening Round ⑤ Alfousseynou Kamara (Senegal & France) vs. Jones Coliseu (Brazil)

Kamara is one half of the “Strongest Twins,” introduced to K-1 by K-1 legend Jerome Le Banner. In the opening round of the 2025 WORLD MAX tournament, he knocked out Albijon Morina, but was forced to withdraw from the quarterfinals after suffering an accident when he fell during his pre-fight warm-up, just hours before the fight. He now returns to the tournament looking for a fresh start.

Coliseu lost to Salsicha in the semifinals of last year’s South American Qualifier. This year, he returned to the tournament and relied heavily on his dangerous kicking arsenal to win a high-level South American Qualifier.

It will be Kamara’s speed and power against Coliseu’s unpredictable and versatile kicks. On paper, Kamara appears to have the edge in overall ability. However, if Coliseu can catch Kamara as he moves forward with a crescent kick or high kick, an upset is certainly possible. Kamara may be the favorite, but the continued rise of Brazilian fighters cannot be underestimated.

■ K-1 WORLD MAX 2026 -70kg World Tournament Opening Round ⑥ Jonathan Aiulu (Samoa & Australia) vs. Jayjay Morris (Netherlands)

Aiulu is a former rugby player known as the Samoan Monster. He suffered a decision loss to Zhora Akopyan in the opening round of the 2025 WORLD MAX tournament, but his performance did little to diminish his reputation. In the final tournament, he stepped in as a replacement for the injured Akopyan and was immediately matched against Jonas Salsicha, where he suffered a disappointing knockout loss.

Morris is one of the Netherlands’ most promising young talents and the WFL Netherlands -67kg Champion. He won the Dutch Qualifier with an explosive offensive style highlighted by flying knees and dynamic attacks.

This matchup between the powerful Aiulu and the fast, versatile Morris has all the ingredients to captivate the fans. Aiulu pushed Akopyan to the limit and remains a cult favorite among K-1 fans. Morris, meanwhile, will be looking to announce the arrival of a new superstar. Their clash could mark the beginning of a new chapter for K-1’s next generation.

■ K-1 WORLD MAX 2026 -70kg World Tournament Opening Round ⑦ Zack Pankhurst (Australia) vs. Winner PK Saenchai (Thailand)

Pankhurst is the WBC Muay Thai Queensland Super Welterweight Champion. A Ugandan-Australian fighter with a well-balanced combination of kicks and punches, he won the Australian Qualifier after breaking his semifinal opponent’s arm with his powerful kicks.

Winner is a highly regarded prospect from the prestigious PK Saenchai Gym and a dangerous Muay Thai fighter known for his speed and technique. In amateur Muay Thai competition with protective equipment, he demonstrated his finishing ability by firing rapid middle kicks to the body before unleashing a fast combination of punches to score a knockout. His style also appears well suited to the K-1 ruleset.

Both fighters are relatively new comers to the K-1 stage, making this matchup extremely difficult to predict. Winner may appear to have the advantage if the fight develops into a kicking battle, but the full extent of Pankhurst’s power should not be underestimated. Regardless of who wins, this fight could introduce an exciting new force to K-1.

■ K-1 WORLD MAX 2026 -70kg World Tournament Opening Round ⑧ Lorn Panha (Cambodia) vs. Kazuki Matsumoto (Japan & Philippines)

Panha comes to K-1 from Cambodia, where a new K-1 FIGHTING NETWORK event is set to launch. He is the ISKA and WKN Kun Khmer World Welterweight (-67kg) Champion and boasts a record of 127 fights, 103 wins (50 KOs), 19 losses, and 5 draws. Standing 180cm tall, he is a switch-stance fighter whose dangerous knee strikes are among his greatest weapons.

The final remaining spot has been awarded to Kazuki Matsumoto, who will represent host nation Japan. Matsumoto suffered a decision loss to Zhora Akopyan at K-1 DONTAKU 2026 in July, but remains one of Japan’s top-level fighters. In the opening round of the tournament, he will look to display the pride and fighting spirit of Japan against “Cambodia’s Hero” Panha and secure his place in the FINAL 8.

The opening round will consist of eight single bouts, with the eight winners of the FINAL 16 advancing to the FINAL 8 at Yokohama BUNTAI on Tuesday, December 29, where the world’s best will be determined in a one-day tournament.

Will the top established K-1 fighters advance as expected, or will a new star emerge from the FINAL 16? The tournament to determine the world’s best at 70kg finally gets underway on September 12!