At yesterday’s press conference K-1 announced five additional Super Fights for the upcoming K-1 WORLD GP 2022 JAPAN: Yokohama Festival, which will take place on Sunday, September 11, 2022. The event will also feature a one-night, eight-man Super Featherweight Championship Tournament.
Hiromi Wajima vs. Melettis Kakoubavas
【K-1 WORLD GP】9.11(日)横浜
🌙和島大海(@waji_gessinkai)
✊欧州の超強豪メレティスと対戦！「強い選手とやりたいと言って来ましたが…
いきなり強すぎませんかね（苦笑）？」📝詳細▷https://t.co/eCRueuHYrk
🎫チケット情報▷https://t.co/Zhbj8BxYJ2#k1wgp #よこはまつり pic.twitter.com/T0YohGCqmI— K-1【公式アカウント】 (@k1wgp_pr) July 27, 2022
Wajima is the reigning K-1 Super Welterweight champion, who grabbed the belt by defeating Minoru Kimura at K-1 World GP 2021 in Osaka. The two of them met before in the finals of the championship tournament at K’Festa 3 with the Brazilian coming out victorious via first-round TKO. Since winning the belt Wajima fought on two different occasions with his most recent match taking place at the stacked THE MATCH fight card, where he beat BeyNoah.
He will take on the Georgian fighter who lives in Greece, Kakoubavas. He’s a ICO Europe Kickboxing champion in the under 70 kg division. He also won the FFC -70 kg Championship, KGP -70 kg Championship, and the IFP -72 kg World Championship.
Masahi Kumura vs. Kompetch Sitsarawatsuer
【K-1 WORLD GP】9.11(日)横浜
⚡玖村将史(@k3bmss)
✊ムエタイ六冠王の“天才”コンペットを迎え撃つ「僕の前ではムエタイスタイルは通用しない。
“K-1”で戦って倒します」📝詳細▷https://t.co/KMMmITb5U2
🎫チケット情報▷https://t.co/Zhbj8BxYJ2#k1wgp #よこはまつり pic.twitter.com/rawgkTO7SH— K-1【公式アカウント】 (@k1wgp_pr) July 27, 2022
Kumura is a former KRUSH Super Bantamweight champion, who vacated the belt after switching full-time to K-1 competition, where he fought for the promotion’s Super Bantamweight title. He was unsuccessful in his attempts. In his last fight at THE MATCH he defeated Tenshin’s rival, Shiro. Interestingly enough he’s unbeaten when it comes to squaring off against Thai fighters, as he defeated both Phetpangan Mor.Ratanabandit and Daosakorn Mor.Tassanai.
Sitsarawatsuer will be making his abroad debut, as for the first time in his career he will fight outside of his home country of Thailand. He’s a 2018 Lumpinee Stadium 112 lbs Champion, 2019 Lumpinee Stadium 118 lbs Champion. He’s also Professional Boxing Association of Thailand’s 2017 Thailand 108 lbs Champion. Most notably he’s a Channel 7 Boxing Stadium2017 Channel 7 Stadium 108 lbs Champion, 2018 Channel 7 Stadium 112 lbs Champion and 2021 Channel 7 Stadium 126 lbs Champion.
Shintaro Matsukura vs. Katsuya Jimbo
【K-1 WORLD GP】9.11(日)横浜
💥記者会見からバチバチ！
✊松倉信太郎と神保克哉が因縁の一戦「倒して自分の言葉を証明する」(松倉)
「都合のいい転校生をぶっ飛ばす」(神保)📝詳細▷https://t.co/amJagQvwVj
🎫チケット情報▷https://t.co/Zhbj8BxYJ2#k1wgp #よこはまつり pic.twitter.com/JgEogz28Ey— K-1【公式アカウント】 (@k1wgp_pr) July 27, 2022
Matsukura is a KRUSH, RISE, RIZIN, and KNOCK OUT veteran. He’s a former KNOCK OUT Black Super Middleweight Champion, who vacated the belt back in march. He currently rides an eight-fight winning streak with his last outing taking place at K’Festa 5, where he beat Julio Cesar Mori.
Jimbo is a KRUSH alumni, who debuted after gaining some experience at K-1 amateur circuit. He unsuccessfully challenged Jordan Piqueau for the KRUSH Super Welterweight title back in June 2019. He currently rides a six-fight winning streak with his most recent win being over Shinya Uemura at KRUSH 137.
Other matchups
【K-1 WORLD GP】9.11(日)横浜
林健太
「ありのままに戦って、ドン・フライvs高山のような試合をしたい」
vs
小嶋瑠久
「K-1が俺に『早く開花しろ』と言っているように聞こえる。開花しちゃいます」📝詳細▷https://t.co/4L0FGTsjLp
🎫チケット情報▷https://t.co/Zhbj8BxYJ2#k1wgp #よこはまつり pic.twitter.com/vO36pIhMrn— K-1【公式アカウント】 (@k1wgp_pr) July 27, 2022
In the Super Lightweight affair, Kenta Hayashi will take on Ruku Kojima, as both fighters struggle with their careers. Kojima is on a two-fight losing streak while Hayashi bounces between wins and loses.
【K-1 WORLD GP】9.11(日)横浜
不可思
「KOで倒しに行くし、実力の違いを見せる」
vs
大野祐志郎
「不可思くんが持っているものを持っていく」📝詳細▷https://t.co/b2VQY44kR8
🎫チケット情報▷https://t.co/Zhbj8BxYJ2#k1wgp #よこはまつり pic.twitter.com/qim38bc2Vu— K-1【公式アカウント】 (@k1wgp_pr) July 27, 2022
In another Super Lightweight matchup, Fukashi Mizutani will square off against Yujiro Ono. Mizutani is a former KNOCK OUT Super Lightweight champion, who most recently defeated Kojima at K’Festa 5 while Ono came out victorious against Hikaru Hasumi at KRUSH 137.
