“The Giant of MAX” Dengue Silva Laughs at Jinku Oda’s Muscles: “You Can’t Win with Just Muscles” – K-1 WORLD MAX in Tokyo on February 9
January 27th, 2025
On Sunday, February 9, the K-1 WORLD MAX 2025 will take place at the Tokyo National Yoyogi Studium 2nd Gymnasium.in Tokyo, Japan. In the K-1 Super Welterweight division, “The Muscle Tank” Jinku Oda (Japan/TEAM 3K) will face “The Giant of MAX” Dengue Silva (Brazil/Squadron Thai Brasil). Silva gave an interview ahead of the fight.
Silva, a two-sport fighter in both kickboxing and MMA. He is the SFT Combat -70kg champion under the MMA organization, SFT. Silva is 190 cm tall, making him significantly taller than most competitors in this division. With his exceptional reach, he is adept at balancing kicks and punches. In March 2024, during the opening round of the K-1 WORLD MAX Tournament, Silva knocked down Riku and won by TKO. In the July quarterfinals, he emerged victorious after an intense striking battle against Darryl Verdonk but lost to Stoyan Koprivlenski in the semifinals, ultimately finishing in third place. In October, Silva lost a decision win after an extra round against Jordann Pikeur.
Oda, meanwhile, has a background in full-contact karate and lives up to his nickname “The Muscle Tank” with his heavily muscular physique. He debuted in Krush in February 2023, defeating Yashazaru via decision. In May 2024, he knocked out Naoki Morita in the semifinals of the Krush super welterweight tournament and went on to win the title by defeating Riku in the August final. In October, Oda knocked down Stoyan Koprivlenski during their match but ultimately lost via decision in an extra round.
Interview with Dengue Silva
– Your fight with Jordann Pikeur last October was a close match. How do you reflect on it?
“I didn’t learn much from that fight. The reason I lost was simply because I didn’t have a good strategy. However, fighting him wasn’t particularly difficult. If I face him again, I will definitely win.”
– What kind of fight do you expect against Jinku Oda?
“Oda is a good athlete. I think it will be a good match.”
– Oda knocked down Stoyan Koprivlenski in their fight. What do you think about the punch that caused the knockdown?
“Yes, he knocked down Stoyan, but I don’t think he has the strength to defeat me. There’s nothing remarkable about it.”
– Oda has a muscular physique and comes from a karate background. What do you think of his muscles?
“If muscles alone could win fights, everyone would just focus on physical training (laughs). His muscular build means nothing. If he isn’t a smart athlete, he’ll definitely lose.”
– On the other hand, what do you think gives you an edge over Oda?
“Unlike him, I’m a very intelligent athlete. I have speed and a high level of skill.”
– Are you saying Oda only has muscles?
“You can’t win with just muscles. The K-1 ring isn’t so forgiving that you can rely on muscles alone to win. I think this fight will prove that.”
– There’s a significant height difference between you and Oda. Do you think your knee strikes will land?
“Knee strikes are one of my specialties. I’ll show that I can land them on him with ease.”
– Fighters with a karate background are often known for their strong spirit. What’s your evaluation of Oda’s mental strength?
“All athletes need strong mental toughness. Without it, they’ll face big problems. So, Oda is just a normal fighter with a strong mentality.”
– Do you have a message for Oda?
“Train hard. But train smart. I’ll return to the K-1 ring, and I promise to deliver a fight that surprises everyone.”
– What are your goals for 2025?
“My goal for 2025 is to win again in K-1 WORLD MAX and then transition my career to MMA.”
– So, MMA is part of your future plans. Lastly, do you have a message for Japanese fans?
“To all the Japanese fans, thank you for your support. I’ll win again and make you proud of my work as a fighter.”fighting style. I want to deliver an explosive fight filled with action, speed, and power. Expect a KO!”
Announced Bouts
[K-1 WORLD GP Super Lightweight Title Match]
- Yodkhunpon Weerasakreck vs. Hayato Suzuki
[K-1 WORLD GP Featherweight Title Match]
- Takumi Terada vs. Takahito Niimi
[K-1 WORLD GP Super Bantamweight Title Match]
- Akihiro Kaneko vs. Manolis Kallistis
[-77kg Catchweight]
- Shintaro Matsukura vs. Park Chungil
[K-1 Super Lightweight]
- Daizo Sasaki vs. Shu Inagaki
[K-1 Cruiserweight]
- Thian Tarzan vs. Carlos Budiao
[K-1 Super Welterweight]
- Mohammed Boutasaa vs. Riku
[K-1 Super Welterweight]
- Darryl Verdonk vs. Jomthong Strikergym
[K-1 Super Welterweight]
- Dengue Silva vs. Jinku Oda
[K-1 Super Welterweight]
- Abiral Himalayan Cheetah vs. Yasuhito Shirasu
[K-1 Super Lightweight]
- Viktor Akimov vs. Kensei Kondo
[K-1 Lightweight]
- Yuzuki Satomi vs. Tomas Aguirre
[K-1 Featherweight]
- Shoki Kaneda vs. Shuhei Kumura
[K-1 Featherweight]
- Ryota Ishida vs. Lyra Nagasaka
[K-1 Women’s Flyweight]
- Noriko Ikeuchi vs. Vesela Rogaska
[K-1 WORLD GP Women’s Atomweight Championship Tournament]
- Kira Matsutani vs. Mafia Petchmongkoldee
- Lucille vs. Aki Suematsu
- Jung Yujung vs. Hiyori Onishi
Preliminary Fights
[K-1 Lightweight]
- Akihiko Kawagoe vs. Hiroki Nakano
[K-1 Super Bantamweight]
- Ryuto Uchida vs. Daichi
[K-1 Super Bantamweight]
- Ryuki vs, Haruto
[K-1 Super Lightweight]
- Masato Ishikawa vs. Hayato Hamana
[-51kg Catchweight]
- Seri Okubo vs. Ryuki