Yuki Yoza | |
---|---|
Born | 与座 優貴 December 20, 1997 Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan |
Nationality | Japanese |
Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
Weight | 63 kg (139 lb; 9.9 st) |
Style | Kyokushin |
Stance | Orthodox |
Fighting out of | Japan |
Team | Hashimoto Dojo (2019-2021) K-1 Gym Sagami Ono KREST (2021-Present) Ibaraki Joso Soshibu (Karate) |
Years active | 2019-present |
Kickboxing record | |
Total | 18 |
Wins | 16 |
By knockout | 7 |
Losses | 2 |
By knockout | 0 |
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.
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 Kick.[2]
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.
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]
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]
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]
Professional
Awards
16 Wins (7 (T)KO's), 2 Losses, 0 Draw, 0 No Contest | ||||||||
Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024-03-17 | Kan Nakamura | RISE ELDORADO 2024 | Tokyo, Japan | |||||
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, Semi Final | 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 Quarter Finals | 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 |