February 27, 2025

On May 31 (Saturday), the fight card announcement press conference for K-1 BEYOND in Yokohama, was held in Tokyo.

During the press conference, Leona Pettas, the 5th K-1 WORLD GP Super Featherweight Champion, who has openly opposed the current K-1 Producer, Mitsuru Miyata, stormed the event and took over the stage.

Grabbing the microphone in Miyata’s absence, Leona declared:
*”I’m Leona Pettas, the one who spoke out in the K-1 ring on February 9. Since then, the response has been much bigger than I expected, and many people have shown their support. Back then, I acted emotionally when I got in the ring, but in the end, I think it turned out well.

The fact that so many people support me proves that the current K-1 is failing to showcase the best of K-1 and kickboxing. That’s exactly what I want to build and bring back.

As for Miyata, he’s an incompetent producer. Until we remove him from that position, K-1 won’t reach its full potential.

In the ring, I said, ‘If you have any grievances with K-1, come to me.’ And surprisingly, about 20 to 30 fighters reached out to me, saying they were sidelined from fights or set up to fail in matchmaking. Many fighters are in this situation, but today, I brought just one as a representative. Let me introduce him.”*

Leona then called out Yuta Matsuyama (ALONZA ABLAZE), his former junior teammate.

Matsuyama stepped forward and said:
“I don’t particularly have any complaints against K-1 or Mr. Miyata, but since Leona has always looked out for me, I knew I had to stand with him in this fight to change K-1.

If we’re going to shake things up, I have to be there with him. So this time, I’ve joined Leona as part of the Rebellion Army, and together, we’re going to stir things up and make K-1 exciting again.”

With K-1 officially announcing an eight-man tournament for the vacant K-1 WORLD GP Super Featherweight title—a belt that Leona himself vacated—he declared his own participation without K-1’s formal approval:
“Yuta and I will be competing. That’s already decided.

I know there are other fighters who want to join, including the Krush champion, and I think he deserves a shot. But honestly, if we’re not in it, the tournament won’t be exciting. The rest can be foreign fighters, in my opinion.

Either Yuta or I will take the belt, so mark your calendars and get ready.”

Minoru Kimura Joins the Rebellion Army

Towards the end of the press conference, another surprising figure joined the Rebellion Army—Minoru “Philip” Kimura.

Kimura made his first public appearance since his arrest in October 2024 for alleged violations of Japan’s Cannabis Control Law. Taking the microphone, he addressed the audience:
“Everyone, it’s been a while.

I deeply apologize for the trouble and concerns I have caused.

Moving forward, I promise to completely stay away from illegal drugs and doping. I am a new Minoru Kimura, and I ask for your support.”

He continued:
“To be honest, I don’t hold any grudges against K-1 or Mr. Miyata, but K-1 has felt lacking.

The Rebellion Army still seemed a bit small, so I wanted to take this opportunity to make my comeback.

I want to show K-1 my strength again and use this as my first step towards a full return. Please support me.”