, better known as , is a Japanese kickboxer, fighting out of Japan. As of July 2021, he is the #7 ranked Bantamweight according to Combat Press. He's been ranked since May 2019.

Kickboxing career

Koji lost to

Taiga Taiga (; rus, тайга́, p=tɐjˈɡa; relates to Mongolic and Turkic languages), generally referred to in North America as a boreal forest or snow forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruc ...

by decision in June 2017. In February 2017, Koji fought Mohamed Boulef for the ISKA World Lightweight title. He beat Boulef by unanimous decision. He was scheduled to fight

Kotaro Shimano Kotaro Shimano (born 8 June 1992) is a Japanese kickboxer, fighting out of Futtsu, Japan. He is the former Krush Super Featherweight champion. As of 1 August 2020, he is ranked the #9 flyweight in the world by Combat Press. He first entered t ...

in September 2017. Koji won the fight by unanimous decision. Koji participated in the 2018 Super Featherweight Grand Prix. He beat

Hirotaka Urabe Hirotaka Urabe is a retired Japanese kickboxer. He was the 2015 K-1 Super Featherweight Grand Prix winner, as well as the inaugural and two time Krush Super Featherweight champion. As of December 2020, he was the #10 ranked Super Flyweight, a ...

by decision in the quarterfinals, and lost to Kosuke Komiyama in the semifinals by decision in turn. He fought

Stavros Exakoustidis Stavros Exakoustidis (born 3 July 1987) is a Greek kickboxer fighting in the super featherweight division of K-1. Kickboxing career Early career Superkombat Fighting Championship Exakoustidis was scheduled to challenge Qasim Nisar for the ICO ...

in September 2018. Koji won the fight by split decision after an extra round was fought. In December 2018 he fought

Takeru Segawa is a Japanese kickboxer. He is the former K-1 Super Featherweight champion, K-1 Featherweight champion and K-1 Super Bantamweight champion. He is the only three weight champion in K-1 history. A generational talent, Takeru is considered to b ...

for the K-1 Super Featherweight title. Takeru won the fight by unanimous decision. Koji was scheduled to fight Jan Szajko during K'Festa 2. He beat Szajko by unanimous decision. Kouzi fought Tatsuya Oiwa during K-1 World GP 2019: Japan vs World 5 vs 5. The fight went into an extra fourth round, after which Kouzi won a split decision. He fought Seiya Kawahara during K-1's 2019 Yokohama Matsuri event. Seiya was dominant throughout the majority of the first round, before Koji dropped him seconds before the end of the end of the round. Koji would go on to win the fight, and was awarded Combat Press' "Comeback of the Year".

Rizin FF

Koji was under exclusive contract with K-1, but he opted to pay contractual penalties in order to sign with Rizin FF. In his promotional debut Koji fought

Tenshin Nasukawa is a Japanese professional kickboxer, boxer and mixed martial artist. A generational talent, Nasukawa was regarded as a pound for pound talent throughout most of his career as a professional kickboxer and is regarded as one of the greatest kic ...

during Rizin 24 - Saitama. Tenshin won the fight by unanimous decision. Koji was next scheduled to fight

Takanori Gomi is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist who gained international fame in Pride Fighting Championships. Later in his career, Gomi also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gomi is the only Pride FC Lightweight Champion in th ...

in a special rules bout, at Rizin 26. Gomi's weight limit was 75 kg and Koji's 65 kg. The rules of the bout forbid grappling and kicking, while both fighters wore 12oz gloves. Koji lost the bout via majority decision. Koji faced Genji Umeno in the semifinal bout of a four-man kickboxing tournament, held during the Rizin 29 – Osaka event. The idea for the kickboxing Grand Prix came from Kouzi, wanting RIZIN to concentrate more on kickboxing. Going into the Grand Prix, Kouzi believed he will have a good showing saying, "This will be the ultimate public masturbation for me that only I can make happen." 43 seconds into his fight with Umeno, there was an inadvertent clash of heads which left Umeno unable to continue fighting. Accordingly, Koji advanced to the finals, where he met

Taiju Shiratori is a Japanese professional muay thai kickboxer and former boxer. A professional competitor since 2011, Shiratori began his career as a muay thai fighter, most notably winning the WPMF Japan title in 2013. Following an unsuccessful two year b ...

. Shiratori won the final bout by unanimous decision. Koji was later hospitalized with a fractured fundus, which required surgery. He successfully underwent surgery on July 2, 2021. Koji faced Kazuma Sone at Rizin 32 - Okinawa on November 20, 2021. He won the bout via unanimous decision. Koji faced YA-MAN at Rizin 33 - Saitama on December 31, 2021. He lost the fight by majority decision. Koji was booked to face Genji Umeno in a rematch at Rizin 34 – Osaka on March 20, 2022. He won the fight by majority decision.

Titles and accomplishments

International Sport Kickboxing Association The ISKA (originally International Sport Karate Association, later also called the International Sport Kickboxing Association) is one of the major international bodies regulating sport karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the Unit ...

** 2017 ISKA K-1 World Lightweight Champion *HEAT ** 2013 HEAT Kick Lightweight Champion *TRIBELATE ** 2012 TRIBELATE Kick Super Featherweight Champion Awards *CombatPress.com ** 2019 Comeback of the Year

Professional kickboxing record

, - style="background:#cfc;" , 2022-05-07 , , Win , , align="left" , Daowsakon Mor.Tassanai , , HEAT 50 , ,

Nagoya, Japan is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most pop ...

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Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...

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Okinawa, Japan is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...

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, , Rizin 29 – Osaka, Tournament Final , ,

Osaka, Japan is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2.7 ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#c5d2ea;" , 2021-06-27, , No Contest , , align=left, Genji Umeno , , Rizin 29 – Osaka, Tournament Semifinal , ,

, , Doctor Stoppage (Head clash) , , 1 , , 0:43 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2020-09-27, , Loss, , align=left,

, , Rizin 24 - Saitama , ,

Saitama, Japan is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance. Being in the Greater Tokyo Area and lying ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2019-11-24 , , Win, , align=left, Seiya Kawahara, , K-1 WORLD GP 2019 JAPAN Yokohama Matsuri , ,

Yokohama, Japan is the second-largest city in Japan by population and the most populous municipality of Japan. It is the capital city and the most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a 2020 population of 3.8 million. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of T ...

, , KO (Punches) , , 2 , , 2:59 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2019-08-24, , Win , , align=left, Tatsuya Oiwa , , K-1 World GP 2019: Japan vs World 5 vs 5 & Special Superfight in Osaka , ,

, , Ext.R Decision (Split) , , 4 , , 3:00 , -style="background:#cfc;" , 2019-03-10, , Win , , align=left, Jan Szajko , , K-1 World GP 2019: K’FESTA 2 , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2018-12-08, , Loss , , align=left, Takeru , , K-1 World GP 2018: K-1 Lightweight World's Strongest Tournament , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2018-09-24 , , Win , , align=left,

, , K-1 World GP 2018: inaugural Cruiserweight Championship Tournament , ,

, , Ext.R Decision (Split) , , 4 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2018-03-21, , Loss , , align=left, Kosuke Komiyama , , K-1 World GP 2018: K'FESTA.1 -60kg World Tournament Semi Finals , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous), , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2018-03-21, , Win , , align=left,

, , K-1 World GP 2018: K'FESTA.1 -60kg World Tournament Quarter Finals , ,

, , Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) , , 4 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2017-09-18, , Win , , align=left,

, , K-1 World GP 2016 -60kg World Tournament , ,

Tokyo, Japan Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2017-06-18, , Loss , , align=left,

, , K-1 World GP 2017 Super Welterweight Championship Tournament , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2017-02-19, , Win , , align=left, Mohamed Boulef , , HEAT 39 , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous), , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2016-09-19, , Win , , align=left, Toshi , , K-1 World GP 2016 -60kg World Tournament , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2016-04-24, , Loss , , align=left,

Koya Urabe is a Japanese kickboxer, fighting out of Tokyo, Japan. He is the inaugural and former two time K-1 World GP 2016 -60kg World Tournament Champion. As of December 2020, he is the #10 ranked Super Bantamweight according to Combat Press, first e ...

, ,

K-1 World GP 2016 -60kg Japan Tournament The year 2016 is the 24th year in the history of the K-1. 2016 starts with K-1 World GP 2016 -65kg Japan Tournament. List of events K-1 World GP 2016 -65kg Japan Tournament ''K-1 World GP 2016 -65kg Japan Tournament'' was a kickboxing even ...

, Quarter Finals , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2016-02-05 , , Win , , align=left, Syun Kentoshi , , Krush.63 , ,

, , KO (Left High Kick), , 2 , , 1:26 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2015-11-29 , , Win , , align=left, Jo Seong-hyeon , , HEAT 36 , ,

, , TKO (3 Knockdowns), , 3 , , 2:30 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2015-09-27 , , Loss , , align=left, Yuya , , NJKF 2015 6th , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous), , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2015-06-07 , , Loss , , align=left, Fukashi , , Bigbang 21 , ,

, , Decision (Majority), , 3 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2014-12-21 , , Win , , align=left, Kim Jin Hyeok , , HEAT 34 , ,

Kobe, Japan Kobe ( , ; officially , ) is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture Japan. With a population around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Tokyo and Yokohama. It is located in Kansai region, whi ...

, , Decision (Majority) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2014-07-25 , , Loss , , align=left, SHIGERU, , RISE cooperation REBELS.28 , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2014-02-23 , , Win , , align=left, Guo Chen , , HEAT 30 , ,

, , KO (Left Hook to the Body), , 2 , , 2:56 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2013-12-15 , , Win , , align=left, Yuya , , HEAT 29, Heat Kick 1 Day Lightweight Tournament, Final , ,

, , Ext.R Decision (Unanimous), , 4 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2013-12-15 , , Win , , align=left, Kouki , , HEAT 29, Heat Kick 1 Day Lightweight Tournament, Semi Finals , ,

, , Ext.R TKO , , 4 , , 1:55 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2013-10-13 , , Win , , align=left, Jian Yon Ho , , SFK～7th anniversary～ ×REBELS -SPIRIT FIRE KOBE- , ,

, , TKO (Left hook to the body) , , 2 , , 1:28 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2013-07-21 , , Loss , , align=left, Hikaru Machida , , REBELS.18, 60kg Championship Tournament Semi Finals , ,

, , Decision (Majority) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2013-03-10 , , Win , , align=left, TASUKU , , Road to GLORY JAPAN , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous), , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2013-01-26 , , Loss , , align=left, Shota Kanbe , , Krush.26, -58kg Tournament Quarter Finals , ,

, , Decision (Majority) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2012-12-09 , , Loss , , align=left, Hisaaki Nakamukai , , J-NETWORK J-NEXUS 2012 ～Kette ii Tomo!～ , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2012-08-26 , , Loss , , align=left, Taison Maeguchi , , J-KICK 2012～NEXT J-GENERATION～4th , ,

, , Ext.R Decision (Split) , , 4 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2012-07-14 , , Win , , align=left, Tsuyoshi Nakashima , , Krush-EX 2012 vol.4 , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2012-04-28 , , Win , , align=left, Ryoma Hasumi , , TRIBELATE vol.36～Title Match Festival～ , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2012-04-01 , , Win , , align=left, Motohiro Shinohara , , J-NETWORK J-FIGHT in SHINJUKU ～vol.25 , ,

, , KO , , 2 , , 1:33 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2011-11-27 , , Win , , align=left, Reiou , , J-NETWORK J-F-X ～TIME to CHANGE the KICK by J-SPIRIT EX.～ , ,

, , TKO , , 1 , , 1:49 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2011-10-10 , , Loss , , align=left, Shoudai Kitazono , , KING OF STRIKERS Round 6 , , Fukuoka, Japan, , KO , , 3 , , , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2011-09-18 , , Loss , , align=left, Ryuji Washio , , J-NETWORK J-FIGHT in SHINJUKU～vol.23～ , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous), , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2011-07-18 , , Win , , align=left, Koki Ota , , DEMOLITION 2 DAYS ～day 2nd Kick Boxing～ – HIGH SPEED – , ,

, , KO (Right Cross) , , 2 , , 2:35 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2010-12-12 , , Win , , align=left, Shohei Nishimura , , DEEP☆KICK 5 , ,

, , KO , , 2 , , 2:05 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2010-08-08 , , Win , , align=left, Yuto Tsujide , , DEEP☆KICK 4 , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2010-06-13 , , Loss , , align=left, Ken Saenchaigym , , NJKF BANZAI ATTACK I , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 2010-04-04 , , Loss , , align=left,

Yuki Kyotani is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the bantamweight division of RISE. Between December 2021 and June 2022, Combat Press ranked him as the tenth best flyweight in the world. Kickboxing career Early career Kyotani was scheduled to fac ...

, , DEEP☆KICK 3 , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2009-12-23 , , Win , , align=left, Ichiji Minami , , Yuichiro Nagashima produce DEEP KICK 2 , ,

, , Decision (Split) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2009-10-11 , , Win , , align=left, Takashi Fujita , , NAGOYA KICK～BoogieFight09 VACANCY～ , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous), , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , 2009-07-05 , , Win , , align=left, Takeshi Kai , , Yuichiro Nagashima produce DEEP KICK , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#c5d2ea;" , 2009-05-10 , , Draw , , align=left, Daiki Kato , , NAGOYA KICK～BoogieFight08 Sandcastle～ , ,

Aichi, Japan is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefectu ...

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#c5d2ea;" , 2009-03-08 , , Draw , , align=left, Akitaka Sugiyama , , NAGOYAKICK～BoogieFight07 Black Sunday～ , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#CCFFCC;" , , , Win , , align=left, Fujita , , S-1 , , Japan, , KO , , , , , - , colspan=9 , ''Legend'':

Exhibition Boxing Record

References