On Sunday, June 18, the K-1 World GP returned to the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, for the K-1 World GP 2017 Super Welterweight Championship Tournament. The promotion returned to the illustrious arena for the first time since Dynamite!! 2010, more than six years ago.
In the evening’s main event, the super welterweight champion was crowned after an eight-man, one-night 70-kilogram tournament featuring some of the top talent in the world. In the opening round, one of the world’s best, Chingiz Allazov, took on former Krush champion Hiroki Nakajima. Current Krush 70-kilogram titleholder Jordann Pikeur met top-15 kickboxer Hinata Watanabe, Sweden’s Sanny Dahlbeck fought Japan’s Yu Hirono, and showman Yasuhiro Kido battled England’s Luke Whelan, who replaced Jordan Watson on short notice.
In the night’s main card action, four of the promotion’s champions were in action. The super lightweight champ Kaew Weerasakreck defended his title against the second best kickboxer in the divison, Japan’s Masaaki Noiri. One of the world’s top kickboxers and two-division K-1 champion, Takeru, met the tough Buvasiar Paskhaev. Top Chinese kickboxer and current lightweight belt-holder Wei Rui met surging Thai fighter Gonnapar Weerasakreck, who has wins over top fighters Hideaki Yamazaki and Koya Urabe. The K-1 super featherweight champ Taiga went toe-to-toe with Koji.
The event aired live at 12 a.m. ET on Ameba TV (Japan). The fight videos are available here.
Masaaki Noiri def. Kaew Weerasakreck by extension round split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9) – for super lightweight title
Wei Rui def. Gonnapar Weerasakreck by majority decision (29-27, 28-28, 29-28)
Takeru def. Buvaisar Paskhaev by TKO (body shot). Round 3, 1:17
Chingiz Allazov def. Jordann Pikeur by knockout. Round 1, 2:17 – super welterweight semifinal
Yasuhiro Kido def. Sanny Dahlbeck by knockout. Round 1, 2:28 – super welterweight semifinal
Taiga def. Koji by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Haruma Saikyo def. Kaito Ozawa by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-28, 30-27)
Ren Hiramoto def. Umar Paskhaev by unanimous decision (30-26 x3)
Jordann Pikeur def. Hinata Watanabe by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-28, 30-27) – super welterweight quarterfinal
Chingiz Allazov def. Hiroki Nakajima by knockout. Round 2, 1:18 – super welterweight quarterfinal
Sanny Dahlbeck def. Yo Hirono by TKO. Round 2, 2:33 – super welterweight quarterfinal
Yasuhiro Kido def. Luke Whelan by knockout. Round 3, 1:34 – super welterweight quarterfinal
Yoichi Yamazaki def. Tomoaki Makino by unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-27) – super welterweight reserve
Jinbo Katsuya def. Uchiyama Masato by knockout. Round 1, 2:21
Takeuchi Youki def. Tabata Ryo by knockout. Round 1, 0:31
Suzuki Hayato def. Koga Youki by knockout. Round 2, 1:02
Takuma Kawaguchi def. Yusaku Nishikyo by unanimous decision (30-29, 30-29, 30-28)