Knock Out (kickboxing) explained

Knock Out
Type:Private
Foundation:2016
Location City:Tokyo
Location Country:Japan
Founders:Riki Onodera, Bushido Road
Key People:Mitsuru Miyata
Industry:Martial arts entertainment planning and promotion
Owner:Def Fellow
Homepage:Knockout Kickboxing

Knock Out (stylized as KNOCK OUT) is a Japanese martial arts promotion and brand established in 2016 by the Bushido Road subsidiary Kixroad. It is currently run by Def Fellow.

In 2019, the promotion established two different rulesets. The Knock Out-Red ruleset allowed elbow strikes, sweeps and throws. The Knock Out-Black ruleset followed the traditional K-1 ruleset, which allowed kicks and strikes with fists or knees, while extended clinching, elbow strikes and throws of any kind were prohibited.[1]

Current champions

DivisionRed ChampionBlack Champion
Super Middleweight (-75 kg) Vacant Vacant
Super Welterweight (-70 kg) Kuntap Charoenchai Kaito Ono
Welterweight (-67.5 kg) Vacant Ryotaro
Super Lightweight (-65 kg) Bazooka Koki Chihiro Suzuki
Lightweight (-62.5 kg) Yota Shigemori Taimu Hisai
Super Featherweight (-60 kg) Vacant Taimu Hisai
Featherweight (-57.5 kg) Vacant
Super Bantamweight (-55 kg) Issei SaenchaiGym Seiya Furuki
Bantamweight (-53.5 kg) Riku Otsu Vacant
Super Flyweight (-52 kg) Vacant Vacant
Female Minimumweight (-47.5 kg) Vacant Vacant
Female Atomweight (-46 kg) Vacant Vacant

History

On September 14, 2016, Bushido Road announced the establishment of a new kickboxing promotion called Knock Out. The promotion was founded jointly by Riki Onodera and Road Fight, and initially partnered with another kickboxing promotion "NO KICK NO LIFE".[2]

KNOCK OUT held their first event, called "Knock Out vol.0", at the Tokyo Dome City Hall on December 5, 2016. It was headlined by a muay thai bout between Sirimongkol PKsaenchaimuaythaigym and the Rajadamnern 135 lbs champion Genji Umeno. Tenshin Nasukawa faced the two-weight Lumpinee champion Wanchalong PK.Saenchai in the co-headliner.[3] A half hour segment of the event was later broadcast by Tokyo MX on December 31, 2016.[4] The event was fully broadcast on January 1, 2017.[5]

Riki Onodera retired from the position of producer on April 29, 2019.[6] On May 20, 2019, it was announced that he would be replaced by Genki Yamaguchi. On the same day, Knock Out announced that they had entered into a partnership agreement with Rebels, another kickboxing and muay thai promotion.[7]

On June 15, 2020, Bushido Road sold Knock Out ownership rights to Def Fellow, the operating company of Rebels.[8]

At a press conference held on September 28, 2020, producer Genki Yamaguchi announced his retirement. Former K-1 producer and Good Loser president Mitsuru Miyata was announced as his replacement.[9]

On December 18, 2020, Def Fellow announced they would merge Rebels into the Knock Out brand. The merger occurred in March 2021.[10]

Rules

The current rules were last revised in February 2023, and are as follows:[11] [12]

Championship history

King of Knock Out

Super Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 65 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Fukashi
(def. Hideki)
align=center August 19, 2018

Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 61.5 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Yosuke Morii
(def. Katsuji)
align=center December 10, 2017
align=center 2align=left Yodlekpet Or. Pitisak
(def. Yosuke Morii)
align=center August 14, 2018

Super Bantamweight Championship

Weight limit: 55 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Rui Ebata
(def. Eisaku Ogasawara)
align=center September 18, 2019

Flyweight Championship

Weight limit: 51 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Issei Ishii
(def. Kazuki Osaki)
align=center December 9, 2018

Knock Out-Red

Red Super Welterweight Championship

Weight limit: 70 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Eiji Yoshida
(def. Yoshiro Tsuzaki)
align=center October 16, 2019
align=center bgcolor="#FFFF99"2align=left Kuntap Charoenchai
(def. Yoshiro Tsuzaki)
align=center December 11, 2022

Red Super Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 65 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center bgcolor="#FFFF99"1align=left Bazooka Koki
(def. Ryotaro)
align=center September 16, 2023

Red Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 62.5 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Suarek Rukkukamui
(def. Yota Shigemori)
align=center September 22, 2020
align=center bgcolor="#FFFF99"2align=left Yota Shigemori
(def. Suarek Rukkukamui)
align=center July 18, 2021

Red Super Featherweight Championship

Weight limit: 60 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Taimu Hisai
(def. Soichiro Arata)
align=center December 11, 2022
Hisai vacated the title in 2023 in order to move u in weight

Red Featherweight Championship

Weight limit: 57.5 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Haruto Yasumoto
(def. Shogo Kuriaki)
align=center June 9, 2019
Yasumoto vacated the title on July 28, 2022, after signing with RISE.[13]
align=center bgcolor="#FFFF99"2align=left Eisaku Ogasawara
(def. Takeru Owaki)
align=center September 23, 2022

Red Super Bantamweight Championship

Weight limit: 55 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Eisaku Ogasawara
(def. King Kyosuke)
align=center March 13, 2021
  • def. Issei Saenchaigym on November 28, 2021
Ogasawara vacated the title on August 18, 2022, in order to move up to featherweight.[14]
align=center 2align=left Issei SaenchaiGym
(def. Yuki Morioka)
align=center November 19, 2022
align=center 3align=left Hikaru Furumura
(def. Issei SaenchaiGym)
align=center August 6, 2023
align=center bgcolor="#FFFF99"4align=left Issei SaenchaiGym (2)
(def. Hikaru Furumura)
align=center April 27, 2024

Red Bantamweight Championship

Weight limit: 53.5 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Kyoha
(def. Kohei Adachi)
align=center September 25, 2021
Kyoha vacated the title in 2022.
align=center bgcolor="#FFFF99"2align=left Riku Otsu
(def. Shinta)
align=center August 6, 2023

Red Super Flyweight Championship

Weight limit: 52 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Yusei Shirahata
(def. Ryuto Oinuma)
align=center February 28, 2021
Shirahata vacated the title on March 3, 2022.[15]
align=center 2align=left Shinta
(def. Riku Otsu)
align=center December 11, 2022
Shinta vacated the title on 2023, in order to move up to bantamweight.

Knock Out-Black

Black Super Middleweight Championship

Weight limit: 75 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Shintaro Matsukura
(def. Hijiri Tamura)
align=center July 18, 2021
Matsukura vacated the title on March 3, 2022.[16]

Black Super Welterweight Championship

Weight limit: 70 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center bgcolor="#FFFF99"1align=left Kaito Ono
(def. Hinata)
align=center February 28, 2021

Black Welterweight Championship

Weight limit: 67.5 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Ryotaro
(def. Daiki Watabe)
align=center September 23, 2022

Black Super Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 65 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center bgcolor="#FFFF99"1align=left Chihiro Suzuki
(def. Keijirō Miyakoshi)
align=center July 18, 2021

Black Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 62.5 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Bazooka Koki
(def. Keisuke Niwa)
align=center August 30, 2020
  • def. Shoji Otani on May 22, 2021
Bazooka Koki vacated the title in 2023 in order to move up in weight
align=center bgcolor="#FFFF99"2align=left Taimu Hisai
(def. Shoji Otani)
align=center September 16, 2023

Black Super Featherweight Championship

Weight limit: 60 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center bgcolor="#FFFF99"1align=left Taimu Hisai
(def. Ryusei)
align=center June 23, 2024

Black Featherweight Championship

Weight limit: 57.5 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Ryusei
(def. Ginji)
align=center October 29, 2021
Ryusei vacated the title on July 11, 2024 in order to move up in weight[17]

Black Super Bantamweight Championship

Weight limit: 55 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center bgcolor="#FFFF99"1align=left Seiya Furuki
(def. Reo "red" Kudo)
align=center December 11, 2022

Black Super Flyweight Championship

Weight limit: 52 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Ryu Hanaoka
(def. Takumi Hamada)
align=center September 25, 2021
Hanaoka vacated the title on July 28, 2022, after signing with RISE.[18]

Black Female Minimumweight Championship

Weight limit: 47.5 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Panchan Rina
(def. Miki Kitamura)
align=center March 12, 2022
Rina vacated the title on February 17, 2023, after being arrested on fraud charges[19]

Black Female Atomweight Championship

Weight limit: 46 kg

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle=width:13%;"Datestyle= width:49%;"Defenses
align=center 1align=left Panchan Rina
(def. Misaki)
align=center August 30, 2020
Rina vacated the title on December 19, 2021, in order to move up in weight.[20]

Grand Prix

+ Knock Out Black -64kg Grand Prix
Date Champion Nationality Event Location Runner-up Nationality
2020-02-11 Japan Knock Out Championship.1 Japan

Notes and References

  1. Web site: KNOCK OUT 肘有りは「REDルール」、肘無しは「BLACKルール」に。2.11 大田で肘無し64kgトーナメント . boutreview.com . 14 November 2019 . 8 February 2022.
  2. Web site: ブシロードがキックボクシング界へ殴り込み!!株式会社キックスロード設立並びにキックボクシング新イベント「KNOCK OUT」発表記者会見開催のお知らせ . prtimes.jp . September 2016 . 8 February 2022.
  3. Web site: 【KNOCK OUT】ルンピニー現役王者をKOした那須川、さらなる強豪を求める . efight.jp . 6 December 2016 . 8 February 2022.
  4. Web site: 【2016年版】年末年始に見ておきたいアニメ一覧 #もりたセレクト . liginc.co.jp . 29 December 2016 . 8 February 2022.
  5. Web site: 【KNOCK OUT】テレビで毎週放映のレギュラー番組を開始 . efight.jp . 5 January 2017 . 8 February 2022.
  6. Web site: 「KNOCK OUT」小野寺力プロデューサーが退任「これまでの流れは壊せた」 . hochi.news . 29 April 2019 . 8 February 2022.
  7. Web site: REBELS代表・山口元気氏が「KNOCK OUT」プロデューサー就任 . excite.co.jp . 8 February 2022.
  8. Web site: 【KNOCK OUT】ブシロードがKNOCK OUT事業から退き、山口元気プロデューサーが引き継ぐ=新型コロナも影響 . gonkaku.jp . 8 February 2022.
  9. Web site: KNOCK OUT・REBELSの新プロデューサーに宮田充氏が就任「K-1を真似しちゃいけない」、山口元気氏「宮田さんの色に染めてもらいたい」 . boutreview.com . 28 September 2020 . 8 February 2022.
  10. Web site: 2021年2月に「REBELS」を封印し「KNOCK OUT」へのブランド統合を発表【REBELS】 . tokyoheadline.com . 18 December 2020 . 8 February 2022.
  11. Web site: 【KNOCK OUT】プロ大会公式ルール改定、REDルールとBLACKルールの相違点がヒジ打ちと脇差しの有無のみとなる、延長Rはマスト判定に . gonkaku.jp . 8 February 2022 . 6 July 2021.
  12. Web site: 【KNOCK OUT】BLACKルールを"ワンキャッチ・ワンアタック"のルールに改定、3.5代々木大会より実施 . efight.jp . 17 February 2023 . 17 February 2023.
  13. Web site: 橋本道場の安本晴翔と花岡竜がKNOCK OUT王座を返上 . boutreview.com . 28 July 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  14. Web site: 【KNOCK OUT】小笠原瑛作が2階級制覇を狙ってTAKERUと対戦、良太郎と渡部太基が王座を懸けてダイレクトリマッチ、REDスーパーバンタム級王座決定トーナメントも . gonkaku.jp . 18 August 2022.
  15. Web site: 【KNOCK OUT】松倉信太郎と白幡裕星が王座返上、次なる挑戦へ . efight.jp . 4 March 2022 . 4 March 2022.
  16. Web site: 【KNOCK OUT】松倉信太郎と白幡裕星が王座返上、次なる挑戦へ . efight.jp . 4 March 2022 . 4 March 2022.
  17. Web site: 龍聖が久井大夢へのリベンジ目指し8月大会に緊急参戦。ベルトを返上し1989年の猪木さんを思い出させる第1試合から出直し【KNOCK OUT】 . tokyoheadline.com . 11 July 2024 . ja.
  18. Web site: 橋本道場の安本晴翔と花岡竜がKNOCK OUT王座を返上 . boutreview.com . 28 July 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  19. Web site: ぱんちゃん璃奈、KNOCK OUT王座返上を発表 12月に詐欺容疑で逮捕後初の会見で謝罪 . nikkansports.com . 17 February 2023.
  20. Web site: ぱんちゃん璃奈、2階級制覇を目指し初代ミニマム級決定戦に出場. Nikkan Sports. Japanese. 2021-12-19 . 2022-05-16.