Masato
The Charisma of MAX, champion in 2003 and 2008
- Born
- March 10, 1979, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
- Nationality
Japan- Height
- 174 cm (5′9″)
- Style
- Combination puncher-kicker
- Weight
- Welterweight
- Active
- 1997–2009
- Status
- Retired · age 47
The record
Wikipedia infobox (63 bouts); no second source with a complete record was found.
The story
asato Kobayashi, known simply as Masato, became the home star of K-1's 70 kg MAX series. From Kashiwa in Chiba, he won the AJKF welterweight title in 1999 and an ISKA world title in 2000, before K-1 MAX began. After losing to Albert Kraus in the 2002 semifinal, he knocked Kraus out with a left hook in the 2003 final to become world champion. He reached two more finals, losing to Buakaw Por. Pramuk in 2004 and Andy Souwer in 2007, then won a second title in 2008 by beating Yoshihiro Sato and Artur Kyshenko in extra rounds on the same night. He retired after outpointing Souwer on New Year's Eve 2009, and in 2012 briefly served as executive producer of K-1 Global.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- K-1 World MAX champion (2003, 2008)
- K-1 World MAX runner-up (2004, 2007)
- K-1 World MAX Japan tournament champion (2002, 2003)
- ISKA oriental rules world welterweight champion (2000)
- AJKF welterweight champion (1999)
Defining fights
- 2003WINvs Albert Kraus (KO 2, left hook, K-1 World MAX final)
- 2004LOSSvs Buakaw Por. Pramuk (extra-round decision, K-1 World MAX final)
- 2007WINvs Buakaw Por. Pramuk (unanimous decision, K-1 World MAX finals)
- 2008WINvs Artur Kyshenko (extra-round decision, K-1 World MAX final)
- 2009WINvs Andy Souwer (unanimous decision, retirement fight)
Copy Masato's body-head combinations: jab to the body, then a left hook to the head, so the opponent's elbows drop just as the hook arrives.
1976–1995
2009–2023
1977–2000