▼10th Match / Special Boxing Rules / 3 minutes, 3 rounds (No decision) / 70kg Contract
― Buakaw Banchamek (Muay Thai/Thailand)
No Decision, Draw
― Kouzi (RIZIN/Japan)
Buakaw is a living legend in the world of Muay Thai. He first participated in the K-1 WORLD MAX tournament in 2004, where he defeated Masato in the finals to claim the championship, showcasing his immense talent in the old K-1. Now at 42 years old, he has shown he’s still competitive, having drawn with Rukiya Anpo in RIZIN earlier this year, and scored a KO victory against Minoru Kimura in March. In July, he made his debut in the new K-1, demonstrating his enduring prowess against Stoyan Koprivlenski.
In contrast, Kouzi has made his mark primarily in the new K-1 since 2016, experiencing numerous battles including a fierce fight with Takeru. He transitioned to RIZIN in 2020, where he also faced defeats against tough opponents like Tenshin Nasukawa. Recently, he switched to MMA, with a record of 1 win and 1 loss.
In Round 1, Kouzi circled while throwing left jabs and landed a left body shot upon closing the distance. Buakaw maintained a solid guard and slowly closed in, landing powerful left and right body shots, while Kouzi returned the favor with a left hook over the guard. The crowd chanted Kouzi’s name as he landed an uppercut through Buakaw’s guard.
In Round 2, Buakaw increased the pressure while throwing left jabs. Kouzi responded with his own left jabs and a right straight. Both fighters exchanged hooks. Buakaw threw a right straight and then attacked aggressively with left and right hooks and straights in close range. Toward the end of the round, he landed a series of right straights and hooks. Although Kouzi absorbed some shots, he showed resilience, encouraging Buakaw by calling out “come on, come on.”
In Round 3, Buakaw advanced with strong right straights and left hooks. Kouzi aimed to counter Buakaw’s finishing strikes with left hooks and right straights. Buakaw continued to accumulate right straights, body shots, and flurries, but Kouzi responded with hooks at various intervals. As Buakaw evaded Kouzi’s punches, he unleashed a right straight and right uppercut.
Since the match had no KO, it concluded with no decision and ended in a draw.
Buakaw expressed his gratitude by saying, “Hello, thank you,” while appreciating the support.
Kouzi addressed the crowd, saying, “Good evening, everyone. Thank you for today. I know you might get tired of me hyping up before the fight and praising the fighters afterward, but I have respect for those who hype themselves up. I’m happy to have fought against Buakaw, whom I used to watch on TV.”
He continued, “This fantastic charity event was made possible by Mr. Tanigawa collaborating with various organizations. This event aims to spread Japanese martial arts worldwide, but I believe the essence of martial arts lies in spirit. To all the men out there, even if you’re laughed at, I want you to be proud of yourself. It’s a true man’s spirit to keep challenging even after getting beaten down multiple times. I hope men can live with the mindset of being ready to go down without resorting to steroids or marijuana.” He ended on a humorous note, saying, “I want to get knocked out soon,” hinting at a potential matchup with Floyd Mayweather.
Comment after fight
Buakaw Banchamek (Muay Thai/Thailand)
“Today was really fun. It was exciting. (Icing my right fist) The fist isn’t damaged, but it hurts a little, so I’m icing it just to be safe. It’s only pain in my fist, nothing else is damaged.
-How did you feel about the fight?
He was a tough fighter, very resilient and had a strong heart.
-How did you approach the fight?
I was enjoying myself. The rules were boxing, so I focused on not using kicks or elbows.
-About being provoked at the press conference with cigar smoke in his face
I wasn’t bothered by it. I just thought he was the kind of person who does those things to hype up the event. But I was surprised since no other fighter has ever come out smoking. I just thought, ‘I’ll remember this for tomorrow.’ Still, it was an important part of his performance, and his team understood that.
-Any attacks that felt effective?
There were several moments when I thought I could knock him down. He was tough. Since he didn’t go down, he was clearly a strong-hearted fighter. I’d like to fight him in a kickboxing match to understand his strengths better.
-Was he tougher than Masato?
Hmm, I think Koji was tougher.
-Will you fight under boxing rules again?
I’m willing to do as many fights as needed. I don’t have any particular opponent I want to fight, but if there’s a big name who matches up well, I’d like to fight them. I fought using a Muay Thai rhythm to display my boxing skills.”
Kouzi (RIZIN/Japan)
“It was brutal. Honestly, you can’t fight without steroids (laughs). Well, I’m kidding, but it feels like the bare minimum. I got an offer from Mr. Tanigawa, and though the preparation time was short, I’m glad I took the fight.
-It felt like a fight with emotions on display)
His punches were really heavy. I felt like I got hit by strong jabs, but it didn’t seem to faze me much. I thought I should have thrown more power punches (laughs). After the second round, I realized that.
-Your opponent was in a higher weight class
Yeah, way higher. He was powerful, but I already knew that when I accepted the fight. I think he’s a great fighter.
-Your opponent’s counterstrategy?
I was sparring with Daisuke Watanabe, a former Japanese boxing ranker. Since I couldn’t gain strength in two weeks, I tried to focus on speed, and that really helped.
-What was difficult about the fight?
His punches were just heavy, and his body was strong. In my weight class, I don’t usually back down, but I found myself with my back against the cage the whole time. If there was electricity flowing through it, it would’ve been a nightmare (laughs).
-You wanted to get a KO?
Of course. That’s why I was swinging wildly. Maybe the audience didn’t notice, but my fists hurt like hell. I went into this fight ready to fall, even if it meant a double knockout, but my opponent was amazing. If we were the same weight, I think I could have knocked him out. Actually, that sounds lame, so scratch that (laughs).
-Are you satisfied with the result?
Not really, but at least I did the minimum. After losing to Ryusei Ashizawa, I spent a year training in grappling, but when it came to the actual fight, I forgot everything. I thought winning a striking battle would look cool, but it ended up disappointing. I felt bad for my corner and was depressed for two months. Then Mr. Tanigawa reached out, and I was moved by the charity event.
I want to say something. There’s a lot happening in the fighting world right now, and people talk about getting punch-drunk. The reporters here are typing away, but you’re doing it for your loved ones or families, right? Even if you’re told to stop to avoid getting carpal tunnel, you still must feed your family. I’m putting my body on the line. There’s no shame in getting punch-drunk. If you work hard, even when things are tough, you can hold your head high. Even if people mock you, like they do me, it’s important to keep fighting. Showing a bit of courage is what matters. I fought to show that.
I just said something profound, so write that down even if you get carpal tunnel (laughs).
I told Mr. Tanigawa that if I exceeded expectations, I’d want a bonus. Since I didn’t get knocked out, I’ll donate the Kouzi Bonus to charity, aside from the fight money.
-Was the trash talk because you respect your opponent?
Yes. I only talk trash to people I’m interested in or respect. I’ve been watching Buakaw on TV for a long time, and I owe a lot to Mr. Tanigawa and others. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. I truly respect them and fought head-on. But when is someone going to knock me out? Fighters talk big, but I’m still standing, talking fine. Hurry up and knock me out already, I want to retire (laughs).
-About a fight with Badr Hari?
I forgot about him. If I fought him, I’d die. But today, Shrek fought hard and won. His opponent was about as big as Badr Hari. Shrek’s a weird guy, but he won, and that’s what being a man is all about. I want to show that kind of spirit. But Badr Hari is a criminal, so he can’t come to Japan.
Even though I’m saying all this, I have my own path. Everyone has their character, so let’s all hype things up together.
-Is MMA next?
I’ve lost in MMA, but I want to do what I can. People probably think I’ve quit MMA, but I’m persistent. I’ll rise again. I’ve been learning from Shinya Aoki and Masaki Takeura, but I haven’t shown anything yet.
-Next fight in RIZIN?
I’m in demand. RIZIN will probably reach out for New Year’s Eve. Who will I fight? Let’s see if it excites everyone.
Oh, and Mayweather is cheating on Rukiya Anpo. I’m not saying it’s set, but Mayweather said he wants to fight Rukiya. That’s complete infidelity (laughs). He ambushed me with a group, but if I lose interest, they’ll toss me aside. Pacquiao’s an option too, but he’s weak. Somebody jokes with me about this (laughs).”
Event Overview
Noto Peninsula Earthquake Charity Event
JAPAN MARTIAL ARTS EXPO PROLOGUE
Event Date: Saturday, October 19, 2024
Doors Open: 12:30 PM, Event Starts: 2:00 PM
Venue: Yokohama BUNTAI (2-7-1 Furocho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0032)
Organizer: Japan Martial Arts Consortium
Ticket Prices: Arena Reserved Seats ¥10,000 (excluding tax) / General Admission (Free Seating) ¥3,000 (excluding tax)
Tickets on Sale: From Tuesday, October 1, 2024, via ePlus and other ticketing services.
How to watch：
12:30-（JST) U-NEXT（Only in Japan・Free）
https://video.unext.jp/livedetail/LIV0000006877?rid=FS00040
14:00-（JST) TrillerTV（Worldwide exlculding Japan・PPV）
https://www.trillertv.com/watch/japan-martial-arts-expo-2024/2pfqy/
14:00-（JST) Fight Plus（Worldwide excluding Japan・PPV）
https://fightplus.eu/item.html?id=4949480
Official Website：https://jmaexpo.com/
For the latest updates, please check the official social media channels