December 25^th , 2024

On February 9^th, 2025 (Saturday), “K-1 WORLD MAX 2025” will be held at Tokyo National Yoyogi Studium 2^nd Gymnasium. The first wave fight card announcement press conference took place on December 25^th (Wednesday) in Tokyo.

Two title fights were announced during the first session of the two-part conference. In the K-1 WORLD GP Super Lightweight Title Match, reigning champion Yodkhunpon Weerasakreck will defend his title for the first time against Hayato Suzuki. Additionally, a four-woman tournament to determine the vacant K-1 WORLD GP Woman Atomweight Championship—left open following the retirement of Miyuu Sugawara—was announced, with Kira Matsutani confirmed as a participant.

K-1 Producer Mitsuru Miyata explained his decision to grant Suzuki a title shot:
“He lost in the last tournament due to a doctor’s stoppage. I hope he can redeem himself. With his 35^th birthday approaching in January, I’m entrusting him with this opportunity,” he said, expressing high expectations.

Regarding the Women’s Atomweight Tournament, Miyata noted, “We’re considering a four-woman format, including international fighters. However, we want to keep one spot open for a Japanese fighter from another organization who’s willing to step forward.” On the possibility of a champion from another organization, Miyata said, “As long as they defend the title once a year, I think it’s great to have fighters from other organizations participate, especially in women’s divisions.”

K-1 WORLD GP Super Lightweight Title Match
Yodkhunpon Weerasakreck (Thailand/Weerasakreck Fairtex Gym)
vs.
Hayato Suzuki (Japan/K-1 Gym Gotanda Team Kings)

Yodkhunpon has competed in both Lumpinee and Rajadamnern stadiums and won Topking World Series -70kg Tournament. In 2023, he participated in RWS eight-man welterweight tournament. In September 2024, he claimed the K-1 Super Lightweight Championship by securing back-to-back KO victories over Can Pinar and Ionut Popa, before defeating Shu Inagaki in the final.

Suzuki won the Krush Super Lightweight Championship in January 2019 by knocking out Daiki Matsushita. He lost the title to Daizo Sasaki in February 2020 but continued moving forward, including a decision victory over Koya Urabe in the latter’s retirement match in March 2024. In September 2024, Suzuki faced Ionut Popa in the opening round of the K-1 Super Lightweight Title Tournament but lost via TKO due to a doctor’s stoppage caused by bleeding.

Comments from Hayato Suzuki:
— On receiving the title shot
“I’m genuinely grateful for this chance. I was disappointed with my last performance, as I had put everything on the line for that fight. I even considered retiring if I lost. But I couldn’t accept the way I lost. This opportunity reignites my drive, and I’m determined to become the champion.”

— Reflecting on the previous tournament
“In the first round, I didn’t realize how severe my bleeding was and thought I could continue. But watching the footage later, I understood why it was stopped. It also made me realize how tough tournaments are. I couldn’t fully focus on one fight at a time, which showed my lack of ability. Even if I had advanced, I wouldn’t have won the tournament. This time, I can go all out and I want to deliver a fitting performance.”

— On Yodkhunpon winning the tournament
“He’s strong, no doubt. Since this fight was decided, I’ve been studying him a lot. He’s skilled, with powerful punches and kicks, and he’s got heart. He’s probably the strongest fighter I’ve faced. I can’t win if I just keep on doing what I’ve always done, so I’ve started analyzing my opponent’s style for the first time. I watch his fights daily with my trainer.”

— On Producer Miyata’s expectation

“I’m very grateful! Honestly, it makes me happy. Since they’ve given me this chance, I want to put on a fight that exceeds expectations. I want them to think, ‘It was the right choice to pick him’.”

— What’s the difference between last time and now?

“The last tournament felt like a debut match for me. It was like jumping into it without enough preparation, which didn’t work out well. This time, my mindset is different. I want to show a fight that’s nothing like the last one.”

— You’ve had one win and one loss against Thai fighters. How does that experience influence this match?

“The fight against Densayarm doesn’t count for much since he was a southpaw, and I finished the fight quickly. The bout against Pakorn showed the unique rhythm of Thai fighters, and before I realized it, I got drawn into their pace. It’s that finesse. If I let that happen, I won’t win. I believe the key is to showcase my own strengths.”

— Last time, you mentioned putting everything on the line for the fight. What about this time?

“I’m putting everything on the line for this fight. I see this as my last chance. If I don’t win here, I don’t think I can climb higher. I’m ready to give everything I’ve got in this fight.”

— Do you see any weaknesses in your opponent?

“I can’t pinpoint a specific flaw in detail. He’s a strong fighter, but when it comes to facing me, whether he can fight the same way is a different story. If I fight my fight, I believe I can surpass him in every aspect. Starting from the fundamentals, if I’m better in all areas, I think I can win across the board—punches, kicks, trading blows. I envision myself outperforming him everywhere. Rather than just fighting smart, I plan to dominate in every aspect.”

— If you win the belt, what are your plans moving forward?

“If I win the belt, I’ll push forward without stopping. It’s all or nothing. If I lose, it means I’m not cut out for this. But if I win, everything changes. Until now, I’ve been just one of many fighters. But if I become the champion, I’ll become the face of K-1. I’m starting to think about the direction I want to take. I feel the potential.”

K-1 WORLD GP Women’s Atomweight Title Tournament
Kira Matsutani (Japan/ALONZA ABLAZE)
vs.
TBA (participants and matchups to be announced later)

Kira Matsutani, who has karate background, debuted in June 2019. She made her Krush debut in October 2019, defeating Yuri Morikawa. In February 2022, she beat Satomi Toyoshima and later competed in K-1’s first all-woman’s event [K-1 RING OF VENUS] to determine the first K-1 Woman Atomweight Champion but lost in the semifinal to Miyuu Sugawara. Matsutani rebounded in November 2022 and continued her streak, including a win over former K-1 Atomweight Champion Phayahong in July 2023. She became the 4^th Krush Atomweight Champion in November 2023 after defeating Nana Okuwaki.

Comments from Kira Matsutani:
— Thoughts on the upcoming tournament.
“I’m really happy to have the chance to fight for the K-1 belt, which has always been my goal. This is my second attempt, so I’m determined to get the belt this time.”

— What impact did your KO victory over Ramos have on you?
“There hasn’t been any particular change. I was simply happy to get a KO, but I believe people will have higher expectations for me now. Moving forward, I want to have fights where people think I’m strong, whether I get a KO or not.”

— Miyu Sugawara announced her retirement from K-1 and vacated her title. What do you want to say to her?
“I have a lot of thoughts, but since she’s no longer in K-1, it doesn’t matter to me anymore.”

— There was some controversy about whether she was avoiding you.
“I’ve been saying I wanted to fight her for about a year and a half, and it never happened, so I think that’s how it is. I don’t know how others or she feels about it.”

— Is there anyone you wish to see in this tournament?
“At the moment, there aren’t any Japanese fighters I want to face. If it’s a foreign fighter, I’d like someone who holds a title that would make people think I might lose.”

— What do you want to showcase in this tournament?
“I want to prove that K-1’s atomweight division is the strongest among women and that I am the strongest in the world.”

— Sugawara said, ‘I want Matsutani to lead women’s K-1 from now on.’ How do you feel about that?
“Of course, I feel the same. I want to win the K-1 belt and prove that K-1’s woman atomweight division is the strongest.”

— Miyata Producer mentioned the possibility of exchange matches with RISE. Does that make you more interested in Japanese opponents?
“From what I’ve heard, in RISE, I think Koyuki Miyazaki is the strongest in the same weight class. She’s on a roll, and our fight ended in a draw, so if we’re talking about matchups between promotions, I’d definitely want to fight her.”