On Saturday, Dec. 8, the K-1 Group held their final event of the year from the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan, for the K-1 World GP in Japan 2018 Lightweight Championship Tournament.
In the night’s headliner, three-division K-1 champion and current super featherweight champ Takeru took on popular Japanese challenger Koji.
In the evening’s tournament action, eight fighters fought for the tournament crown. In the opening match-ups, Krush 63-kilogram champion Gonnapar Weerasakreck fought Krush super lightweight champion Yuto Shinohara, Japanese prospect Fumiya Osawa faced China’s Liu Wei, Bigbang champ Kenta Hayashi toook on Spain’s Nicolas Gaffie, and Australia’s Indigo Boyd battled former Bigbang titleholder Kyoshiro. Hayashi was crowned after three victories in one night.
The event aired live on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 11:30 p.m. ET on Abema TV (Japan).
Kenta Hayashi def. Fumiya Osawa by TKO (four knockdowns). Round 3 – tournament final
Yoshiki Takei def. Yodbuadaeng Fairtex by extra round unanimous decision (10-9×3)
Masaaki Noiri def. Riki Matsuoka by knockout (punches). Round 1
Rukiya Anpo def. Hideaki Yamazaki by knockout (head kick). Round 4
Fumiya Osawa def. Kyoshiro by knockout (punches). Round 2 – tournament semifinal
Kenta Hayashi def. Yuto Shinohara by knockout (strikes). Round 1 – tournament semifinal
Taio Asahisa def. Riku Anpo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-28, 30-26)
Yuta Hayashi vs. Shuhei Kumura ends in a no contest (accidental head butt). Round 1
Fumiya Osawa def. Liu Wei by majority decision (30-29, 30-29, 29-29) – tournament quarterfinal
Kyoshiro def. Indigo Boyd by knockout (right cross). Round 3, 2:15 – tournament quarterfinal
Yuto Shinohara def. Gonnapar Weerasakreck by knockout (left hook). Round 1, 0:25 – tournament quarterfinal
Kenta Hayashi def. Nicolas Gaffie by split decision (30-28, 30-29, 28-29) – tournament quarterfinal
Shinichiro Kawasaki def. Hisaki Higashimoto by extra round unanimous decision (10-9×3) – tournament reserve
Tetsu def. Masafumu Kurasaki by unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-28)
Seiya def. Koji Suzuki by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-28, 30-29)
Aoshi vs. Yuto Kuroda ends in split draw (30-29, 29-30, 29-29)