Before signing with ONE Championship, Yuki Yoza was already heralded as one of Japan’s elite stylists and arguably the most devastating kicker in combat sports. During his tenure in K-1, he twice defeated then-champion Taio Asahisa, seizing the K-1 world title in their high-stakes rematch. His resume further includes a clinical first-round knockout of the Thai powerhouse Kongnapa Weerasakreck. In his K-1 swan song, Yoza dismantled former ONE Flyweight World Champion Petchdam, utilizing a relentless barrage of low kicks to secure a knockout victory.
Following his TEAM VASILEUS stablemates, Yoza transitioned to the ONE circle in April 2024. He immediately accepted the challenge of moving up a weight class—from 62.5 kg to 65 kg—entering what is widely considered the most talent-dense division in kickboxing.
In May, he halted the momentum of Russian standout Elbrus Osmanov, who was undefeated in ONE at the time. Showcasing his trademark "Yoza Kick," he systematically broke down Osmanov’s defenses, ending the prospect’s six-fight winning streak with clinical precision.
Eager to fast-track his path to gold, Yoza next faced former ONE bantamweight kickboxing champion Petchtanong. Despite his veteran status, Petchtanong remained a formidable tactical puzzle, having never lost his ONE belt in active competition.
However, Yoza’s suffocating pressure and methodical leg attacks neutralized the veteran’s signature point-fighting style. After scoring a definitive knockdown with punches in the second round, Yoza handed Petchtanong his first defeat in five years, earning a dominant unanimous decision.
The defining moment of his career arrived in November 2025. Returning to Japan, Yoza challenged the man many considered the pound-for-pound king: Superlek Kiatmoo9. Though Superlek had recently faced setbacks—including a weight miss and a shocking loss to Nabil Anane—he remained "The Kicking Machine." Yoza, however, proved to be the superior technician on the night. By repeatedly sending Superlek stumbling across the canvas, Yoza secured a clear decision victory that firmly established him as the premier striker of this generation.
Yoza has now fixed his sights on the ONE Championship Featherweight World Title in 2026. The throne is currently occupied by promotional centerpiece Jonathan Haggerty. With ONE 174 scheduled for Tokyo on April 3, the combat sports world is clamoring for this matchup. For a fighter of Yoza’s caliber to compete in his home country without a title on the line would be a missed opportunity for the sport’s history books.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
While Yoza’s year was defined by the caliber of his opponents, many analysts argue that Remi Parra has an equally compelling—if not stronger—claim to the 2025 Fighter of the Year award. Paara’s 2025 campaign was a masterclass in activity and dominance. He captured the vacant K-1 Super Featherweight Title by winning the grueling World Grand Prix tournament, punctuating a year in which he secured a staggering seven victories—five of them by way of knockout.
Ultimately, Parra fell just short of the top honor, a distinction largely attributed to the strength of schedule. While he moved through a gauntlet of respected names such as Tomoya Yokoyama, Chihiro Nakajima, and Yuta Matsuyama, the consensus among voters was that these victories lacked the historical weight of Yoza’s wins over established global icons. Despite the runner-up finish, Paara’s seven-win streak remains one of the most prolific single-year runs in modern kickboxing history.
