K-1 announced Kouzi will challenge lightweight champion Samuel Nagasawa on Dec. 29 at K-1 World MAX 2026, his first K-1 fight in about seven years.
From 2 reportsLatest K-1 makes Kouzi vs. Nagasawa official for Dec. 29 title fight
What we know
- Kouzi will challenge champion Samuel Nagasawa for the K-1 World GP lightweight title on Dec. 29 at Yokohama Buntai, K-1 announced.
- The title bout is three three-minute rounds with one extra round.
- Kouzi's last K-1 fight was in November 2019 against Seiya Kawahara.
- K-1 formally offered Kouzi the fight on Oct. 23 with an answer requested by the night of Oct. 25; the Sept. 12 challenge began the dispute.
- Yuzuki Satomi vs. Hiroki Akuto is also announced at lightweight on the Dec. 29 card.
K-1 announced at an Oct. 27 press conference in Tokyo that Kouzi (TEAM ONE) will challenge lightweight champion Samuel Nagasawa (B Make) for the K-1 World GP title on Dec. 29 at Yokohama Buntai, on the first announced card of K-1 World MAX 2026. The bout is scheduled for three three-minute rounds with one extra round.
The fight follows a public exchange. At the Sept. 12 K-1 World MAX, Kouzi, a guest commentator, issued a challenge to K-1 producer Genki Sudo, and Nagasawa said he would accept. The two then traded posts on X. On Oct. 23, K-1 formally offered Kouzi the title fight and asked for an answer by the night of Oct. 25.
Kouzi last fought in K-1 in November 2019 against Seiya Kawahara, about seven years ago. His last kickboxing bout was in April 2023 against Ryusei Ashizawa, and his last non-exhibition fight was an MMA bout against Ashizawa in July 2024.
Yuzuki Satomi (team NOVA) vs. Hiroki Akuto (Akuto Dojo) was also announced at lightweight.
The fight follows a public exchange. At the Sept. 12 K-1 World MAX, Kouzi, a guest commentator, issued a challenge to K-1 producer Genki Sudo, and Nagasawa said he would accept. The two then traded posts on X. On Oct. 23, K-1 formally offered Kouzi the title fight and asked for an answer by the night of Oct. 25.
Kouzi last fought in K-1 in November 2019 against Seiya Kawahara, about seven years ago. His last kickboxing bout was in April 2023 against Ryusei Ashizawa, and his last non-exhibition fight was an MMA bout against Ashizawa in July 2024.
Yuzuki Satomi (team NOVA) vs. Hiroki Akuto (Akuto Dojo) was also announced at lightweight.
- Summary
- K-1 announced Kouzi will challenge lightweight champion Samuel Nagasawa on Dec. 29 at K-1 World MAX 2026, his first K-1 fight in about seven years.
- Key points (one per line)
- Kouzi challenges champion Samuel Nagasawa for the K-1 World GP lightweight title, three three-minute rounds plus a possible extra round.
K-1 World MAX 2026 is on Dec. 29 at Yokohama Buntai.
It is Kouzi's first K-1 fight since November 2019, about seven years.
Yuzuki Satomi vs. Hiroki Akuto was also announced at lightweight.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Gong Kakutogi | https://gonkaku.jp/articles/25226
Gong Kakutogi | https://gonkaku.jp/articles/25229
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K-1【Official Account】@k1wgp_prIn the story
📢 対戦カード発表記者会見 生配信！||◤K-1 WORLD MAX 2026◢||🗓️12月29日(火) 🏟️横浜BUNTAI🔥年末の大舞台を彩るファイターは誰だ！？注目の第1弾対戦カードを発表！📅10月27日(火) 12:00～📺ABEMAにて生配信！🔗配信はこちら▷ #k1max
Oct 26 · View on X
皇治@1_kouziIn the story
元気ちゃん、今の誰も知らんK-1王者にそない価値ありまっか？実際、良くも悪くも僕が絡んだからここ最近のK-1で1番話題になっとるわけで、元気ちゃんの横でタモリさんみたいなメガネかけて一丁前に座ってた恐竜の赤ちゃんのサルエルなんかより、その辺りの路上で歌っとる子の方が有名でっせ。…
Oct 24 · View on X
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