Masato (Japanese: 魔裟斗; born March 10, 1979) is a professional Japanese Welterweight kickboxer and a two-time K-1 World MAX champion. He won his first K-1 World MAX title on July 5, 2003 by defeating Mike Zambidis in the quarterfinals, knocking out Sakkedaw Kiatputon in the semifinals and defending champion Albert Kraus with a left hook KO in the tournament finals. Masato was also the K-1 World MAX tournament finalist in 2004 and 2007. On October 1, 2008 Masato won his second K-1 MAX title, defeating Yoshihiro Sato and Artur Kyshenko.
Biography
Masato Kobayashi (小林 雅人) was born in
Chiba,
Japan on
March 10,
1979. He started training
kickboxing at the age of 17 and made his professional debut on
March 23,
1997 against
Hutoshi Takehara. Masato won his professional debut by KO in the first round. After three years of fighting for the All Japan Kickboxing Federation, Masato fought some fights in
Thailand, Wolf Revolution and
K-1. Since 2002, after
K-1 introduced their middlweight (70kg/154lb) division, Masato has been one of their most popular and dominant fighters. He is the only K-1 World MAX champion that has yet to be knocked unconscious in a professional match and is also the only fighter that has qualified for the semi-finals of every single K-1 World MAX tournament (2002-2008). Masato has appeared in films such as
Izo,
Buyuden,
Dead or Alive 2,
Shukyoku Ninja and
Shamo. He is the husband of Japanese actress
Shin Yazawa.
Career
All Japan Kickboxing Federation
Masato started fighting for the All Japan Kickboxing Federation when he was 18 years old. He stayed there for three years and became the welterweight champion at the age of 20 by knocking out Tomoharu Chiba on
March 17,
1999. He only lost one fight in the AJKF to
Takayuki Kohiruimaki.
Thailand
Much of Masato's early career was spent training in
Thailand, although he only fought there twice. In his first match in Thailand, Masato knocked Kongnapa Looktubpha out cold with a swift left uppercut. Later that year he was scheduled to fight Orono Por.Muang U-Bon but due to speculation that
Orono had
hepatitis, Masato's team opted not to fight, only days before the event. Instead, he fought
Suriya Sor.Pleonchit, a highly ranked
southpaw, who would later go on to compete in the
2004 Summer Olympics and win a bronze medal in
Welterweight boxing. Masato was unprepared for
Suriya's
southpaw style and was dominated for the entire five rounds.
Wolf Revolution
Wolf Revolution was an event that mixed live bands with
MMA and
kickboxing matches. Masato headlined on each event and won all of his fights by KO. Masato's last fight for the Wolf Revolution was against
Canadian Melvin Murray, who he managed to finish in the 2nd round. Masato fought two more semi-contact exhibition matches for the Wolf Revolution, including a single round of
MMA rules against
Caol Uno.
K-1 World MAX 2007 Finals
On
October 3,
2007 he participated on his 6th consecutive
K-1 World MAX Final held in
Tokyo, Japan. In quarter finals he was matched up against reigning champion
Buakaw Por. Pramuk. Near the end of the first round, Masato connected with a left uppercut and right cross combo and Buakaw was knocked down.
Masato maintained the pace of offense throughout the fight and won the fight by unanimous decision.
In the semis, Masato was paired up against Artur Kyshenko. The first round unfolded with Kyshenko imposing his range and size on Masato, keeping him at bay throwing hard right hands and left hooks. The second round saw Masato pushing the pace with more leg kicks and combinations. At the two minute mark, Masato threw an overhand right which stunned Kyshenko, and then followed up with a left hook which sent the Ukrainian to the canvas. Kyshenko did not make the count, sending Masato to the finals against Dutch Shoot boxer Andy Souwer.
Masato dominated the first round by throwing body-head combinations and backing Souwer onto the ropes. However, at the end of the round Souwer's methodical leg kicks started to take its toll. In the second the leg kicks were visibly affecting Masato and at the very end, Souwer deliverd two knee strikes to the left leg while chlinching with Masato which made it obvious that Masato couldn't walk straight afterwards and he did not answer the bell for the third round, giving Souwer the victory and making him the 2007 K-1 World MAX champion.
Titles
- 2008 K-1 World MAX Champion
- 2007 K-1 World MAX Finalist
- 2004 K-1 World MAX Finalist
- 2003 K-1 World MAX Champion
- 2003 K-1 World MAX Japan Champion
- 2002 K-1 World MAX Japan Champion
- 2000 ISKA World Oriental Welterweight Champion
- 1999 AJKF Welterweight Champion
Kickboxing Record
| 53 Wins (24 (T)KO's, 29 Decisions), 6 Losses, 2 Draws
|
| Date
| Result
| Opponent
| Event
| Method
| Round
| Time
|
| 2008-10-01
| Win
| Artur Kyshenko
| K-1 World MAX 2008 Final, Japan
| Decision (Ext R.)
| 4
| 3:00 |
| 2008-10-01
| Win
| Yoshihiro Sato
| K-1 World MAX 2008 Final, Japan
| Decision (Ext R.)
| 4
| 3:00 |
| 2008-07-07
| Win
| Gago Drago
| K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 8, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2008-04-09
| Win
| Virgil Kalakoda
| K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 16, Japan
| KO (Right Hook)
| 3
| 0:22 |
| 2007-12-31
| Win
| Yong Soo Choi
| K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite
| , Japan
| TKO (Corner Stoppage)
| 3
| 0:51 |
| 2007-10-03
| Loss
| Andy Souwer
| K-1 World MAX 2007 World Championship Final, Japan
| TKO (Corner Stoppage)
| 2
| 3:00 |
| 2007-10-03
| Win
| Artur Kyshenko
| K-1 World MAX 2007 World Championship Final, Japan
| KO (Left Hook)
| 2
| 0:41 |
| 2007-10-03
| Win
| Buakaw Por. Pramuk
| K-1 World MAX 2007 World Championship Final, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2007-06-28
| Win
| Gesias Calvancante
| K-1 World MAX 2007 World Tournament Open, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2007-04-04
| Win
| Ole Laursen
| K-1 World MAX 2007 World Elite Showcase, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2006-12-31
| Win
| Satoru Suzuki
| K-1 Premium 2006 Dynamite
| , Japan
| TKO (Referee Stoppage)
| 2
| 2:22 |
| 2006-06-30
| Loss
| Andy Souwer
| K-1 World MAX 2006 World Championship Final, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2006-06-30
| Win
| Takayuki Kohiruimaki
| K-1 World MAX 2006 World Championship Final, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2006-04-05
| Win
| Remigijus Morkevicius
| K-1 World MAX 2006 World Tournament Open, Japan
| TKO (Corner Stoppage)
| 2
| 1:56 |
| 2006-02-04
| Win
| Ian Schaffa
| K-1 Japan MAX 2006, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2005-12-31
| Win
| Akira Ohigashi
| K-1 Premium 2005 Dynamite
| , Japan
| TKO (Referee Stoppage)
| 2
| 1:58 |
| 2005-07-20
| Win
| Mike Zambidis
| K-1 World MAX 2005 World Championship Final, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2005-05-04
| Win
| Chi Bin Lim
| K-1 World MAX 2005 World Tournament Open, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2004-12-31
| Win
| Norifumi Yamamoto
| K-1 Premium 2004 Dynamite
| , Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2004-07-07
| Loss
| Buakaw Por. Pramuk
| K-1 World MAX 2004 World Championship Final, Japan
| Decision
| 4
| 3:00 |
| 2004-07-07
| Win
| Albert Kraus
| K-1 World MAX 2004 World Championship Final, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2004-07-07
| Win
| Jadamba Narantungalag
| K-1 World MAX 2004 World Championship Final, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2004-04-07
| Win
| Serkan Yilmaz
| K-1 World MAX 2004 World Tournament Open, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2003-11-18
| Win
| Vince Phillips
| K-1 World MAX 2003, Japan
| KO (Right Low-Kick)
| 2
| 0:15 |
| 2003-07-05
| Win
| Albert Kraus
| K-1 World MAX 2003 World Championship Final, Japan
| KO (Left Hook)
| 2
| 2:26 |
| 2003-07-05
| Win
| Sakeddaw Kiatputon
| K-1 World MAX 2003 World Championship Final, Japan
| KO (Right Uppercut)
| 2
| 2:55 |
| 2003-07-05
| Win
| Mike Zambidis
| K-1 World MAX 2003 World Championship Final, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2003-03-01
| Win
| Kozo Takeda
| K-1 Japan MAX 2003, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2003-03-01
| Win
| Takehiro Murahama
| K-1 Japan MAX 2003, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2003-03-01
| Win
| Genki Sudo
| K-1 Japan MAX 2003, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2002-10-11
| Draw
| Albert Kraus
| K-1 World MAX 2002, Japan
| Draw
| 5
| 3:00 |
| 2002-08-06
| Win
| Melvin Murray
| Wolf Revolution ~Resurrection~, Japan
| TKO (Referee Stoppage)
| 2
| 2:59 |
| 2002-05-11
| Loss
| Albert Kraus
| K-1 World MAX 2002 World Championship Final, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2002-05-11
| Win
| Duane Ludwig
| K-1 World MAX 2002 World Championship Final, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2002-02-11
| Win
| Takayuki Kohiruimaki
| K-1 Japan MAX 2002, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 2002-02-11
| Win
| Ryuji Goto
| K-1 Japan MAX 2002, Japan
| TKO (Referee Stoppage)
| 3
| 2:52 |
| 2002-02-11
| Win
| Takehiro Murahama
| K-1 Japan MAX 2002, Japan
| TKO (Referee Stoppage
| 3
| 0:30 |
| 2001-12-08
| Win
| Noel Soares
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2001, Japan
| KO (Right Straight)
| 3
| 1:30 |
| 2001-08-23
| Win
| Ben Burton
| Black List 010 meets Wolf Revolution, Japan
| KO (Right Low-Kick)
| 4
| 1:10 |
| 2001-06-22
| Win
| Goran Danilovic
| Wolf Revolution Third Wave, Japan
| KO (Right Low-Kick)
| 2
| 2:06 |
| 2001-04-15
| Win
| Patrik Eriksson
| K-1 Burning 2001, Japan
| Decision
| 5
| 3:00 |
| 2001-01-12
| Win
| Mohamed Ouali
| Wolf Revolution Second Wave, Japan
| TKO (Corner Stoppage)
| 3
| 1:26 |
| 2000-12-05
| Loss
| Suriya Sor. Ploenchit
| King's Birthday, Thailand
| Decision
| 5
| 3:00 |
| 2000-11-01
| Win
| Mourad Sari
| K-1 J-MAX 2000, Japan
| KO (Left Hook)
| 2
| 0:48 |
| 2000-07-26
| Win
| Clayton Collier
| Wolf Revolution First Wave, Japan
| KO (Left Jab)
| 1
| 1:15 |
| 2000-05-26
| Win
| Melchor Menor
| Colosseum 2000, Japan
| TKO (Referee Stoppage)
| 4
| 2:59 |
| 2000-04-16
| Win
| Kongnapa Looktubpha
| Thailand
| KO (Left Uppercut)
| 2
| |
| 1999-11-22
| Win
| Eval Denton
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation WAVE-XIII, Japan
| Decision
| 5
| 3:00 |
| 1999-10-08
| Win
| Nick Mitch
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation WAVE-XII, Japan
| Decision
| 5
| 3:00 |
| 1999-08-17
| Win
| Steve Mitch
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation WAVE-V, Japan
| TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
| 2
| 2:15 |
| 1999-07-13
| Win
| Matteo Trevisian
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation WAVE-IV, Japan
| Decision
| 5
| 3:00 |
| 1999-05-11
| Win
| James Schaser
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation WAVE-III, Japan
| Decision
| 5
| 3:00 |
| 1999-03-17
| Win
| Tomoharu Chiba
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation WAVE-II, Japan
| KO (Left Hook)
| 3
| 0:34 |
| 1999-01-25
| Draw
| Hiroyuki Doi
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation WAVE-I, Japan
| Draw
| 5
| 3:00 |
| 1998-11-14
| Win
| Tetsumasa Shimamura
| Shoot Boxing Ground Zero Tokyo, Japan
| KO (Left Hook)
| 1
| 2:32 |
| 1998-10-16
| Win
| Jyunji Tsuboi
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation, Japan
| Decision
| 5
| 3:00 |
| 1998-09-19
| Win
| K-Takahashi
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation Kick Champion's Night, Japan
| Decision
| 4
| 3:00 |
| 1998-07-08
| Win
| Takami Kawano
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 1998-03-22
| Win
| Tomoharu Chiba
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation, Japan
| Decision
| 3
| 3:00 |
| 1997-05-30
| Loss
| Takayuki Kohiruimaki
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation KICK OVER-V, Japan
| TKO (Referee Stoppage)
| 3
| 2:52 |
| 1997-03-23
| Win
| Hutoshi Takehara
| All Japan Kickboxing Federation KICK OVER-IV, Japan
| KO (Right Straight)
| 1
| 2:52 |
See also
External links
References
