In the storied history of K-1, the World MAX tournament has always been a graveyard for the unproven. Yet, on a cold November night in Tokyo, Jonas Salsicha didn’t just survive the gauntlet, he dismantled it. Rising from the obscure gyms of Cidade Tiradentes to the pinnacle of the 70 kg division, Salsicha’s 2025 campaign was more than a breakthrough — it was a takeover of the kickboxing elite.
Prior to 2025, Jonas "Salsicha" Julio was a fixture of the Brazilian regional circuit, a respected veteran, but one whose international ceiling seemed fixed. Dedicated fans might have recalled his tepid stint in the short-lived GLORY Rivals series, but at 30 years old and with over 20 victories to his name, he had yet to secure a major world title or capture the global spotlight.
The turning point arrived early in the year. Returning from an 18-month hiatus, Salsicha secured a spot in the K-1 World MAX Tournament via a grueling trio of decision victories in the South American Qualifier. While his subsequent opening-round win over Salimkhan Ibragimov was impressive, it was largely viewed as "business as usual"—a regional standout finding success, yet to be tested by the division's true titans.
That test arrived in the quarterfinals of the one-day MAX tournament in Tokyo. Facing the reigning K-1 champion and heavy favorite, Ouyang Feng, the Cidade Tiradentes native revealed a terrifying technical evolution. Standing 190 cm tall, Salsicha weaponized his reach with a highly aggressive, unorthodox approach. He stifled Feng with stabbing toe kicks and crescent kicks to the midsection, maintaining a blistering pace that made the champion look uncharacteristically human.
By the time the judges' scores were read, Salsicha had arguably pulled off the upset of the year. But he wasn't finished. Having slayed the giant, he then showcased his finishing instincts, steamrolling Jonathan Aiulu in just 33 seconds. In the tournament final, he punctuated his historic run by folding the highly-regarded Darryl Verdonk with a clinical body kick in the opening round.
Height has always been a weapon in kickboxing, but rarely has it been wielded with the surgical cruelty displayed by Jonas Julio in 2025. Entering the year as a regional specialist with a checkered international record, Salsicha transformed into a human highlight reel, utilizing an unorthodox arsenal of toe kicks and pressure to collapse the K-1 hierarchy in a single, violent evening.
HONOURABLE MENTION
Heading into 2025, Samet Agdeve was a name known only to the most dedicated regional scouts. While his undefeated record and amateur pedigree suggested a high ceiling, few predicted he would leapfrog the contenders' line to challenge the titan of the division: Roman Kryklia.
To many, Kryklia was an unsolvable puzzle and the only legitimate threat to Rico Verhoeven’s heavyweight hegemony. Agdeve, however, refused to follow the script. He delivered a five-round masterclass, neutralizing Kryklia’s massive reach advantage with defensive discipline and a dedication to low kicks. By the final bell, the "unknown" had become the undisputed ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion.
While Agdeve narrowly missed our top spot—primarily due to the sheer volume of wins from our winner—his dethroning of Kryklia stands as the single most impressive tactical performance of the year.
