Yuki Yoza (Japanese: 与座優貴, Yoza Yuki, born December 20, 1997) is a Japanese karateka, professional kickboxer and the current K-1 Lightweight champion.

Yuki Yoza
Born与座 優貴
(1997-12-20) December 20, 1997 (age 26)
Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight63 kg (139 lb; 9.9 st)
StyleKyokushin, Kickboxing
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofJapan
TeamTeam Vasileus (2024-present)
K-1 Gym Sagami Ono KREST (2021-2024)
Hashimoto Dojo (2019-2021)
Ibaraki Joso Soshibu (Karate)
Years active2019-present
Kickboxing record
Total20
Wins18
By knockout8
Losses2
By knockout0

As of 3 April 2023, Yoza is ranked the #1 super-bantamweight kickboxer in the world by Combat Press.[1] As of April 2023, Yoza is ranked the #1 featherweight kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kickboxing.[2]

Professional career

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Early career

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Career beginnings

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Yoza made his professional kickboxing debut against Masahiro Kojika at Japanese Kickboxing Innovation Join Forces 12 on March 31, 2019. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout, after knocking Kojika down three times by the 2:38 minute mark.[3] Yoza faced Tatsuro Fukui at Japanese Kickboxing Innovation Join Forces 13 on May 19, 2019. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout. The ringside physician was called in at the very end of the round, due to a cut on Fukui's face, who advised the referee to stop the fight.[4]

Yoza made his promotional debut with REBELS against Yoshiki at REBELS 61 on June 9, 2019.[5] He won the fight by split decision. Two of the judges scored the fight 30–28 and 29–28 in his favor, while the third judge scored the fight 29–28 for Yoshiki.[6]

Yoza was booked to face Volcano Imoto at Japanese Kickboxing Innovation Join Forces 14 on July 15, 2019.[7] He knocked Imoto out with a head kick at the 2:30 minute mark of the first round.[8][9]

Yoza faced Johnny Oliveira at K.O CLIMAX 2019 on August 18, 2019.[10] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 29–28, 30–29 and 30–28.[11] Yoza faced Tereka∞ at REBELS 63×KNOCK OUT on October 6, 2019.[12] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him a 30–26 scorecard. Yoza scored the sole knockdown of the fight late in the third round, flooring Tereka with a left hook.[13]

Yoza faced Tatsuya Inaishi at SNKA SOUL IN THE RING CLIMAX on December 8, 2019.[14] He won the fight by majority decision.

KNOCK OUT tournaments

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On December 23, 2019, it was announced that Yoza would participate in the 2020 KNOCK OUT 64 kg Grand Prix.[15] Yoza was booked to face Chihiro Suzuki in the tournament quarterfinals, which were held on February 11, 2020.[16] He lost the fight by majority decision. Two of the judges scored the bout 29–28 for Suzuki, while the third judge scored it as an even 28–28 draw.[17]

After suffering his first professional loss, Yoza was booked to face Masaya Kubo at REBELS 67 on November 8, 2020.[18] He won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–29 and 29–28.[19] Yoza next faced Tomo Kiire at Japan Kickboxing Innovation Champions Carnival 2020 on December 27, 2020.[20][21] He won the fight by a third-round knockout.[22]

On January 29, 2021, it was revealed that Yoza would take part in the 2021 KNOCK OUT super lightweight BLACK tournament.[23] Yoza was scheduled to face Keijiro Miyakoshi in the semifinals, which were held on March 13, 2021.[24] He lost the fight by split decision, after an extra round was fought.[25]

Early promotional career

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Yoza made his K-1 debut against Hikaru Hasumi at Krush 132 on December 18, 2021.[26] He won the fight by a second-round knockout, stopping Hikaru with a head kick 17 seconds into the round.[27]

Yoza was booked to face the K-1 Lightweight champion Taio Asahisa in a non-title bout at K-1 World GP 2022 Japan on February 27, 2022.[28] He won the fight by unanimous decision, after an extension round fought. Yoza called for a title fight with Asahisa in his post-fight interview.[29]

Following his upset defeat of Asahisa, Yoza faced the former Krush Super Lightweight champion Yuto Shinohara in a lightweight bout at K-1 World GP 2022 in Fukuoka on August 11, 2022.[30] He won the fight by a second-round knockout, stopping Shinohara with low kicks.[31]

Yoza faced the former Rajadamnern Stadium super lightweight champion Aikpikart Mor.Krungthepthonburi at K-1 World GP 2022 in Osaka on December 3, 2022.[32] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him every round of the bout.[33]

Lightweight champion

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Yoza was booked to challenge Taio Asahisa for the K-1 Lightweight Championship at K-1 World GP 2023: K'Festa 6 on March 12, 2023.[34] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–29 and one scorecard of 30–28.[35]

Yoza faced Aaron Clarke in a non-title bout at K-1 World GP 2023 in Yokohama on June 3, 2023.[36] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–28 and 30–27.[37] Yoza faced Aikmongkol Gaiyanghadao in another non-title bout at K-1 World GP 2023 on July 17, 2023. He needed just 43 seconds to knock Aikmongkol out.[38]

Yoza faced the reigning RISE Lightweight champion Kan Nakamura in a cross-promotional bout at RISE ELDORADO 2024 on March 17, 2024.[39] He won the fight by a third-round knockout.[40] The victory was overturned to a majority decision win for Yoza on March 22, as the stoppage was judged to have resulted from an illegal strike on review.[41]

Yoza faced the former K-1 Lightweight (-62.5kg) titleholder Kongnapa Weerasakreck at K-1 World MAX 2024 - World Championship Tournament Final on July 7, 2024.[42] He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[43]

Yoza faced Petchdam Petchyindee Academy at K-1 World MAX 2024 on September 29, 2024.[44] He won the fight by a third-round knockout.[45]

Titles and accomplishments

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Kickboxing

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Professional

Awards

  • eFight.jp
    • Fighter of the Month (February 2022)[46]
  • Beyond Kickboxing
    • 2022 Beyond Kick "Breakthrough Fighter of the Year"[47]

Karate

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  • IKO Kyokushinkaikan
    • 2012 International Youth (U-15) Championships -55 kg 3rd place[48]
    • 2013 All Japan High School (U-15) Championships -65 kg Winner[49]
    • 2013 International Youth (U-15) Championships -65 kg Winner[50]
    • 2014 World Youth Elite (U-18) Championships -65 kg runner-up[51]
    • 2014 All Japan Weight Championships -70 kg 4th place[52]
    • 2015 World Youth Elite (U-18) Championships - 65 kg runner-up[53]
    • 2015 All Japan Weight Championships -70 kg 3rd place[54]
    • 2016 All Japan Weight Championships -70 kg Winner[55]
    • 2017 World Weight Championships -70 kg Winner[56]
    • 2018 All Japan Weight Championships -80 kg Runner-up

Fight record

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Professional Kickboxing and Muay Thai Record
19 Wins (9 (T)KO's), 2 Losses, 0 Draw, 0 No Contest
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2024-09-29 Win   Petchdam Petchyindee Academy K-1 World MAX 2024 Tokyo, Japan KO (Low kicks) 3 1:12
2024-07-07 Win   Kongnapa Weerasakreck K-1 World MAX 2024 - World Championship Tournament Final Tokyo, Japan TKO (3 Knockdowns) 1 2:30
2024-03-17 Win   Kan Nakamura RISE ELDORADO 2024 Tokyo, Japan Tech.Decision (Majority) 3 2:33
2023-07-17 Win   Aikmongkol Gaiyanghadao K-1 World GP 2023 Tokyo, Japan KO (Liver kick) 1 0:43
2023-06-03 Win   Aaron Clarke K-1 World GP 2023: inaugural Middleweight Championship Tournament Yokohama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2023-03-12 Win   Taio Asahisa K-1 World GP 2023: K'Festa 6 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Wins the K-1 Lightweight (-62.5kg) title.
2022-12-03 Win   Aikpikart Mor.Krungthepthonburi K-1 World GP 2022 in Osaka Osaka, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2022-08-11 Win   Yuto Shinohara K-1 World GP 2022 in Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan TKO (Low kicks) 2 1:12
2022-02-27 Win   Taio Asahisa K-1 World GP 2022 Japan Tokyo, Japan Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) 4 3:00
2021-12-18 Win   Hikaru Hasumi Krush 132 Tokyo, Japan KO (Left High kick) 2 0:17
2021-03-13 Loss   Keijiro Miyakoshi KNOCK OUT "The REBORN" - 65 kg Black Championship Tournament, Semifinals Tokyo, Japan Ext.R Decision (Split) 4 3:00
2020-12-27 Win   Tomo Kiire Japan Kickboxing Innovation Champions Carnival 2020 Tokyo, Japan KO (Punches) 3 1:42
2020-11-08 Win   Masaya Kubo REBELS 67 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2020-02-11 Loss   Chihiro Suzuki KNOCK OUT CHAMPIONSHIP.1 - 64 kg Grand Prix, Quarterfinals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2019-12-08 Win   Tatsuya Inaishi SNKA SOUL IN THE RING CLIMAX Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2019-10-06 Win   Tereka∞ REBELS 63×KNOCK OUT Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2019-08-18 Win   Johnny Oliveira K.O CLIMAX 2019: Summer Kick Fever Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2019-07-15 Win   Volcano Imoto Japanese Kickboxing Innovation Join Forces 14 Tokyo, Japan KO (Middle kick) 1 2:30
2019-06-09 Win   Yoshiki REBELS 61 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Split) 3 3:00
2019-05-19 Win   Tatsuro Fukui Japanese Kickboxing Innovation Join Forces 13 Tokyo, Japan TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 1 3:00
2019-03-31 Win   Masahiro Kojika Japanese Kickboxing Innovation Join Forces 12 Tokyo, Japan TKO (3 Knockdowns) 2 2:38
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: April 2023". combatpress.com. 3 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Rankings April 2023". beyondkick.com. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  3. ^ "【イノベーション】久井淳平が元山祐希との再戦を制し新王者に、極真世界王者・与座優貴はKOデビュー". efight.jp. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  4. ^ "INNOVATION 5.19 新宿フェイス:与座優貴、プロ2戦目は1R KO勝ち。番長兇侍がウェルター級王者に。". boutreview.com. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  5. ^ "【レベルス】極真世界王者の与座優貴が公開練習「蹴りが見えにくい」不可思・談". efight.jp. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  6. ^ "【REBELS】鈴木宙樹と安本晴翔が新王者に、日菜太は坂本優起に延長戦で辛勝". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  7. ^ "【イノベーション】元極真世界王者・与座優貴が、SBとの対抗戦で大将へ抜擢". getnews.jp. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  8. ^ "キックボクシング・イノベーション団体対抗戦! vs. レベルス vs. シュートボクシング、団体王座決定戦!~『Join Forces-14』新宿FACE大会!". miruhon.net. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  9. ^ "【インタビュー】空手世界王者の与座優貴が8・18『K.O CLIMAX 2019』でキック転向後初の大舞台に挑む!「インパクトあるド派手なKOを見せたい」". battle-news.com. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  10. ^ "【インタビュー】空手世界王者の与座優貴が8・18『K.O CLIMAX 2019』でキック転向後初の大舞台に挑む!「インパクトあるド派手なKOを見せたい」". battle-news.com. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  11. ^ "【KNOCK OUT】与座優貴の極真の蹴りが光り判定勝利". efight.jp. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  12. ^ "【REBELS×KO】キック無敗の極真王者の与座優貴「試行錯誤しながら」空手とキックの違い". efight.jp. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  13. ^ "【REBELS】スアレックが最終Rに執念のダウン奪い2階級制覇、栗秋祥梧はフェルナンデス退ける". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  14. ^ "【新日本キック】トリは緑川創のWKBA世界タイトル戦、那須川天心と対戦決定の江幡塁は兄弟対決エキシビション、ぱんちゃん璃奈は第6試合". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  15. ^ "KNOCK OUT 2.11 大田区総合体育館:岡山ZAIMAXトーナメント優勝のタップロンが鈴木真治と対戦。連続1R KO勝ちのUMA、J-NET王者の峯山竜哉と対戦". boutreview.com. 23 December 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  16. ^ "KNOCK OUT ラウンドガールに山本ゆうさんが決定!! 喜入衆、与座優貴、祥子JSK、 Raychell、橋本悟 、バズーカ巧樹、ぱんちゃん璃奈、星輝ありさインタビュー". miruhon.net. February 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  17. ^ "【KNOCK OUT】鈴木千裕が、与座優貴に起死回生のヒザ蹴りで逆転勝利". efight.jp. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  18. ^ "【REBELS】鈴木千裕が初回KO宣言、与座優貴は来年REBELS&KNOCK OUT制覇への「弾みにする」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  19. ^ "REBELS 11.8 後楽園ホール:ぱんちゃん璃奈、初メインで判定勝ちも内容を反省。安本晴翔&鈴木千裕が快勝。RED 55.5kg級決勝は小笠原兄弟対決に". boutreview.com. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  20. ^ "【独占インタビュー】"令和初の怪物" スーパールーキー・与座優貴、極真空手時代の盟友 横浜流星に誓う世界一の座!". excite.co.jp. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  21. ^ "【イノベーション】与座優貴「問題なく勝てる」vs喜入衆「今だからこそ潰せる」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  22. ^ "INNOVATION 12.27 新宿フェイス:花岡竜、Rising力との無敗対決で圧勝。山浦俊一がWBCムエタイ日本王座奪取。与座優貴&橋本悟がKO勝ち". boutreview.com. 27 December 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  23. ^ "KNOCK OUT 3.13 後楽園ホール:壱・センチャイジム×古村光を追加。壱「テーマはREBELS&KNOCK OUTへの恩返し」、古村「KNOCK OUT=倒すをテーマ戦う」". boutreview.com. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  24. ^ "新生KNOCK OUTの第1試合を任された鈴木千裕「第1試合目から来ないと絶対後悔しますよ!」【KNOCK OUT】". ent.smt.docomo.ne.jp. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  25. ^ "KNOCK OUT 3.13 後楽園ホール:小笠原瑛作&安本晴翔、"REBORN"大会飾るKO勝ち。龍聖、勝利も連続KO勝ちストップ。2階級王座決定T決勝は松倉信太郎×田村聖、宮越慶二郎×鈴木千裕に". boutreview.com. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  26. ^ "【Krush】「ヤバい奴が来た」初参戦の与座優貴に蓮實光が「厳しさを教えてあげたい」、新旧ダイナマイト対決の高橋佑太vs西元也史". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  27. ^ "【Krush】元極真王者・与座優貴がインパクト大の豪快失神KOで初陣を飾る". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  28. ^ "K1朝久泰央「全て倒す。僕のいけにえ。一方的に勝てる」与座優貴戦へ自信". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  29. ^ "【K-1】極真世界王者・与座優貴、K-1王者・朝久泰央にノンタイトル戦で勝利「次ベルトを賭けて再戦してください」". efight.jp. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  30. ^ "【K1】与座優貴に王者の風格 篠原悠人戦へ「自分がチャンピオンというマインドでいく」". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  31. ^ "【K-1】与座優貴が篠原悠人をカーフキックで壮絶KO". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  32. ^ "【K-1】元極真世界王者・与座優貴、ムエタイ元王者エークピカートと激突!「自分のよさを出せば倒せる」=12.3大阪". efight.jp. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
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  34. ^ "【K-1】朝久泰央と与座優貴がタイトルマッチで再戦、朝久「捻りつぶすだけ」与座「残酷的なくらいボコボコにして倒す」". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
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  40. ^ "【RISE】後ろ蹴りは有効か、金的か?与座優貴が中村寛にKO勝ちで対抗戦はK-1が3勝2敗で勝利(ゴング格闘技)". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  41. ^ "【RISE×K-1】中村寛vs与座優貴の結果が変更、KOからローブローで負傷判定勝利に(イーファイト)". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  42. ^ "【K-1】与座優貴、強豪ゴンナパーと激突! 急所攻撃もめた中村寛との再戦消滅に「目指すもの違った」(イーファイト)". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  43. ^ "【K-1】圧巻のKO劇を見せた与座優貴「朝まで50~60回試合を見直しました(笑)」空手家の強味を活かすため「今回はバンデージを巻かなかった」(ゴング格闘技)". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 August 2024.
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