ZST (pronounced Zest) is a Japan-based mixed martial arts promotion and sanctioning organization holding amateur and semi-professional MMA events. ZST adopts unique rules in the MMA industry and also used to hold tag-team MMA matches.

ZST
Company typePrivate
IndustryMixed martial arts promotion
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002)
FounderKōki Hioki
Headquarters
Key people
Jō Uehara
Websitehttp://www.zst.jp/

History

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Before establishment

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ZST was conceived in efforts to accommodate fighters of puroresu MMA promotion RINGS that went defunct in February 2002. On September 22, 2002, Takeshi Caesar, the president of Shoot Boxing Association (SBA), and Koki Hioki, representative of ZST, had a conversation after a Shoot Boxing event, and they announced that SBA would support ZST. For this reason, ZST promoted some matches under shoot boxing rule early on.[1]

First event

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The first ZST event "The Battle Field ZST Opening Event" was arranged on November 23, 2002 in Tokyo, and it has since experienced a dramatic increase in popularity possibly in large part due to their highly different rule format. In this event, not only usual MMA matches but MMA tag match also was held among Takumi Yano, Masakazu Imanari and Remigijus Morkevicius, Mindaugas Stankos .[2]

ZST GP

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On November 23, 2003, "ZST GP Opening" was held in Tokyo.

On May 17, 2008, ZST announced a major partnership with DEEP. The partnership will allow the two organizations to co-promote shows, share fighters and eventually unify the organizations.[3]

Rules

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ZST Rule

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Bouts consist of three rounds with a rest period of one and a half minutes. The first and second rounds are five minutes in duration and the third round is three minutes in duration, but the third round is an extra round. Punches, elbow strikes, knees and kicks are allowed to the head and body when both fighters are standing. On the ground punches, elbow strikes, knees and kicks are only allowed to the body. Bouts are not judged. In the event that the bout goes the full-time, the bout is ruled a draw.

Grappling rule (GT-F Rule)

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Bouts consist of two rounds with a rest period of one and two minutes. The first and second rounds are five minutes in duration. The positioning is not regarded for scoring as important factor and any motions including clinching and holding which impedes bouts are prohibited. GT-F came from "Grappling Tournament - Featherweight".

Events

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ZST holds various types of events depending on their theme.

  • ZST
    The main events held regularly under ZST rule for the top contenders.
  • ZST GP
    The tournament events under KOK rule. The events are divided to twice.
  • Battle Hazard
    The events focusing the matches which are not under ZST rule.
  • GT-F
    The tournament events of grappling.
  • Genesis
    The opening matches of ZST and Battle Hazard for the fresh professional contenders.
  • SWAT!
    The events focusing the fresh professional contenders who currently participate Genesis matches. It holds "Genesis tournament" every year, and it is an actual freshmen tournament.
  • Pre Stage
    The events of grappling for the amateur contenders.

Weight division

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ZST sets 11 weight divisions.

Weight division Weight limit No. Name of Champion Nationality
Absoluteweight No weight restrictions - Vacant -
Super heavyweight Unlimited - Vacant -
Heavyweight 105 kg (231.5 lb) - Vacant -
Cruiserweight 95 kg (209.4 lb) - Vacant -
Light heavyweight 85 kg (187.4 lb) - Vacant -
Middleweight 80 kg (176.4 lb) - Vacant -
Welterweight 75 kg (165.3 lb) - Tetsuya Yamada  Japan
Lightweight 70 kg (154.3 lb) 3rd Sho Kogane  Japan
Featherweight 65 kg (143.3 lb) 4th Tetsuya Seki  Japan
Bantamweight 60 kg (132.3 lb) 1st Keisuke Fujiwara  Japan
Flyweight 55 kg (121.3 lb) 4th Tatsuki Saomoto  Japan

References

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