A series of star-studded matchups populate the card, with fighters from 15 different nations looking to book their passage to finals night later this year.
International fans can watch the action on CSI FIGHT SPORTS, or Abema Global, while Japanese viewers can tune in on Abema Fighting Sports, as usual.
Stoyan Koprivlenski vs. Denis Tapu
Seeking to defend his title from 2024, Bulgaria’s Stoyan Koprivlenski will come into the tournament full of confidence as he takes on heavy handed Moldovan Denis Tapu. After defeating Viktor Akimov to win last year's tournament, Koprivlenski won three of his following four bouts, only losing out to former K-1 70kg champion Hiromi Wajima last December.
This is not the first time Denis Tapu has stepped into the ring with a member of the Koprivlenski family. He took on Stoyan’s brother Martin three years ago under the MAX Fight Promotion banner and walked away with a decision victory. The Moldovan will look to find Koprivlenski’s chin with his dynamite overhand right, a punch that floored his most recent opponent Mustafa Gumus twice in the opening round on his way to a first-round knockout win.
Kacper Muszynski vs. Ouyang Feng
Whilst Koprivlenski raised the tournament trophy last year, both Kacper Muszynski and Ouyang Feng could be forgiven for thinking it should have been them in the final instead. Feng was originally scheduled to take part in the tournament after defeating Pascal Schroth in his qualifying matchup, but the Chinese fighter was felled by injury and forced to watch the Bulgarian take his place in the tournament.
Muszynski actually defeated Koprivlenski in his qualifying matchup for the tournament and would have been on course to meet him in the final. However, an injury forced him out of his semi-final matchup with Viktor Akimov. Both men have been perfect since being forced to withdraw from last year's tournament, with Feng obtaining a five-fight win streak across WLF and K-1, and Muszysnki stopping Valentin Mavrodin and Chen Yonghui both inside the distance.
Darryl Verdonk vs. Nurtilek Zhalynbekov
A surprise tournament entry, Kyrgyzstan’s Nurtilek Zhalynbekov will be making his kickboxing debut under the bright K-1 lights. Standing in his way will be Dutchman Darryl Verdonk, a former Enfusion champion who will be looking to show off his improvements after a failed title challenge earlier this year.
MMA fighters are no strangers to competing under K-1 rules, but to make your kickboxing debut in the K-1 World MAX tournament shows an inherent confidence in your striking ability. Sporting a 12-4 record in MMA, Zhalynbekov has lightning fast strikes that have seen him stop eight wins before the final bell, including a ruthless spinning back kick finish over Andrey Tymushev at Open FC 30.
Darryl Verdonk enters the tournament coming off a decision loss for the 70kg title earlier this year. Verdonk battled Ouyang Feng for three hard fought rounds, surviving two knockdowns early in the first round to fight on until the final bell. A fellow fan of spinning attacks, the Dutchman stopped Thai veteran Jomthong with a spinning backfist in his last win and will look to utilise the same strike against his Kyrgyz opponent.
Abiral Ghimire vs. Aymeric Lazizi
Two contrasting styles will square off between the K-1 ropes, as Nepalese knockout machine Abiral Ghimire faces off with sniping Frenchman Aymeric Lazizi.
The statistics could not tell a more different story, Ghimire has finished all but one of his 19 wins by knockout as he batters the body and smashes his opponent’s skulls to pieces, whereas Lazizi has only stopped three of his 22 wins, preferring to systematically take his opponents apart, combining slick movement with pinpoint punches.
Both men are tall for the weight class, standing at over 1.85m each, and their styles matchup well against each other. Ghimire loves to be the aggressor, often stalking his opponents all over the ring in order to let rip against the ropes, whilst Lazizi is always moving, constantly throwing straight punches and leg kicks to keep his opponents at bay.
Jonas Salsicha vs. Salimkhan Ibragimov
The winner of a K-1 qualifying tournament in Brazil, Jonas Salsicha rolled back the years to book his place in the opening round opposite Russian Salimkhan Ibragimov.
Salsicha uses his frame excellently; standing at 1.92m, he keeps his opponents at the end of his strikes before crashing in with punishing knees to the body or a scissor knee to the jaw. Despite being a former WGP champion at 70kg he was somewhat unfavoured going in to a qualifying tournament featuring current champion Petros Freitas. However, when the dust settled, the underdog was the last man standing.
His opponent Salimkhan Ibragimov is a veteran of the Russian fight scene who has competed at the top level in promotions such as RCC and Fair Fight. The battle tested Russian also picked up the WBC World Muay Thai Championship at 72kg, defeating Brazilian champion Victor Hugo after five rounds of action. The only concern for Ibragimov will be remembering the ruleset, as he was previously disqualified for an illegal elbow against Brandon Fos at Enfusion 117.
Zhora Akopyan vs. Jonathan Aiulu
Returning to action after a huge win at K-1 Dontaku earlier this year, Armenia’s Zhora Akopyan will look to go one step further than last year as he takes on Samoan Jonathan Aiulu.
After qualifying for last year's tournament by defeating Taras Hnatchuk, Akopyan ran into the little-known Kacper Muszynski as his first-round opponent. Despite his classy combinations and movement, he was unable to halt the momentum of Muszynski and ultimately fell to a unanimous decision loss. Since that loss, he has fought three times, losing to fellow tournament participant Darryl Verdonk whilst defeating Vladamir Tulaev and Riku to put him in great form entering this tournament.
Aiulu will look to use his energy and body work to outmuscle his Armenian foe. Despite only standing at 1.75m, he whips his kicks to the body quick as a flash and loops his powerful punches over his opponent’s guard to send them tumbling to the canvas. Fresh off a victory over Matt Stevens in August, Aiulu will be full of confidence after claiming the WBC Oceania title and getting redemption over his local rival.
Mason Strodtman vs. Minoru Kimura
A baptism of fire for the American representative in this year’s tournament: unknown prospect Mason Strodtman will face off with former K-1 70kg champion Minoru Kimura in a true David vs Goliath clash.
Strodtman came through an unofficial K-1 qualifier through Husky Fat Promotions, defeating three opponents in one night to secure his place in the tournament. Training under two fight GLORY veteran Kou Lee in Minnesota, Strodtman has developed a strong punching style which is punctuated by sickening knees once he gets close.
Meeting Strodtman in the ring will be former champion Minoru Kimura. A household name under the K-1 banner, the Brazilian bulldozer has not seen the judges’ scorecards in K-1 since 2017. Kimura will be looking to remind everyone what a force of nature he can be: after his last two wins were overturned to no contests, he hasn’t registered a victory since 2020.
Albijon Morina vs. Alfousseynou Kamara
The final matchup sees two fighters get their first taste of action in K-1, as undefeated German Albijon Morina squares off with Senegalese savate specialist Alfousseynou Kamara.
Morina’s young career has seen him amass 19 wins with 13 knockouts, putting his opponents to the sword with a rough and ready style that opens up chances for powerful hooks up close. At only 19 years old, he is significantly the youngest man in the tournament, but don’t mistake his youthfulness for ignorance as he has an educated jab and ability to counterstrike that is beyond his young years.
Kamara is also more than willing to stand in the pocket and brawl; never one to shy away from things getting rough, he has a style that will really test Morina’s gas tank. As he has double the amount of fights as Morina, Kamara will look to take him into the later rounds and punish his inexperience, with a steady diet of leg kicks and hooks to the jaw on the menu for his German opponent.
