Kona Kato Explained

Kona Kato
Birth Name:加藤虎於奈
Birth Date:March 21, 1996
Birth Place:Iruma, Saitama, Japan
Nickname:The Natural
Nationality:Japanese
Fighting Out Of:Tagajō, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Height:180 cm
Weight:67.5kg (148.8lb)
Style:Kickboxing
Stance:Orthodox
Team:Team Top Zeros/Lara Tokyo
Yearsactive:2017 - present
Kickboxingwins:7
Kickboxingkowins:3
Kickboxinglosses:4
Kickboxingkolosses:1
Relatives:Leona Pettas (brother)

is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the welterweight division of K-1. A professional competitor since 2017, Kato is the former Krush welterweight champion.

As of September 2022, Combat Press ranks him as the tenth best super featherweight kickboxer in the world.[1]

Kickboxing career

Early career

Kato made his professional debut against Kaito at Krush 83 on December 9, 2017. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[2] This victory earned Kato his K-1 debut, which took place against Ruku Kojima at K-1 World GP 2018: K'FESTA.1 on March 21, 2018. He lost the fight by a narrow unanimous decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–29 and 29–29.[3]

After suffering his first professional loss, Kato was booked to face Kazuma Takekoshi at Krush 90 on July 22, 2018. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[4] Kato next face Kaito in a rematch at Krush 97 on January 26, 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–26 and 30–27.[5] Kato's two-fight winning streak was snapped by Chunyu Zhang, who beat him by unanimous decision at K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 103 on July 21, 2019.[6]

Kato faced the former Krush welterweight titleholder and two-time welterweight title challenger Keita Makihira at K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 109 on December 15, 2019. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[7] [8]

Kato was expected to face Riki Matsuoka at Krush 116 on August 29, 2020, in the semifinals of the 2020 Krush welterweight tournament. He was forced to withdraw due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Kazuki Yamagiwa.[9] Kato was rescheduled to face Riki Matsuoka at Krush 119 on November 27, 2020.[10] Matsuoka was disqualified from the bout at the 2:42 minute mark of the second round, after he threw an illegal knee inside of the clinch.[11]

Krush welterweight champion

His two-fight winning streak earned Kato the right to challenge the reigning Krush Welterweight (-67.5 kg) champion Kazuki Yamagiwa, in what was the champion's first title defense. The title bout headlined Krush 121, which took place at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on January 23, 2021.[12] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring it 30–26 for Kato, while the last judge scored the bout 30–27 in his favor. Kato knocked his opponent down with a left hook late in the third round, but was unable to finish him before the fight ended.[13]

Kato made his first Krush title defense against Riki Matsuoka in the main event of Krush 124 on April 23, 2021. The bout was a rematch of their November 27, 2020, fight, which ended in a disqualification win for Kato, due to an illegal clinch knee.[14] He failed to repeat his success however, as Matsuoka won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 30–27 and 29–28.[15]

Post title reign

Kato was expected to face the former K-1 World GP Super Lightweight Champion Masaaki Noiri in the quarterfinals of the 2021 K-1 Welterweight World Grand Prix at K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri on September 20, 2021. He was forced to withdraw after contracting COVID-19 and was replaced by FUMIYA.[16] Kota was rescheduled to face Noiri, the newly crowned K-1 welterweight champion, at K-1: K'Festa 5 on April 3, 2022.[17] He lost the fight by a second-round technical knockout, as his corner threw in the towel in the final minute of the round. It was the first stoppage loss of Kato's professional career.[18]

Kato faced Koki at Krush 146 on February 25, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 29–28 and 29–27.[19]

Championships and accomplishments

Professional

Amateur

Fight record

|- style="background:#cfc" | 2023-02-25 || Win||align=left| Koki || Krush 146 || Tokyo, Japan ||Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00

|- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb"| 2022-04-03|| Loss||align=left| Masaaki Noiri || K-1: K'Festa 5 || Tokyo, Japan || TKO (Corner stoppage) || 2 || 2:17

|- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb"| 2021-04-23 || Loss ||align=left| Riki Matsuoka || Krush 124 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00|-! style=background:white colspan=9 ||-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#cfc"| 2021-01-23 || Win ||align=left| Kazuki Yamagiwa || Krush 121 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00|-! style=background:white colspan=9 ||-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#cfc"| 2020-11-27|| Win ||align=left| Riki Matsuoka || Krush 119 || Tokyo, Japan || DQ (Illegal knee) || 2 || 2:42|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#cfc"| 2019-12-15 || Win ||align=left| Keita Makihira || K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 109 || Tokyo, Japan || TKO (Punches) || 2 || 2:48|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb"| 2019-07-21|| Loss ||align=left| Chunyu Zhang || K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 103 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#cfc"| 2019-01-26|| Win ||align=left| Kaito || Krush 97 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#cfc"| 2018-07-22 || Win ||align=left| Kazuma Takekoshi || Krush 90 || Tokyo, Japan || TKO (Three knockdowns) || 1 || 1:29|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb"| 2018-03-21|| Loss ||align=left| Ruku Kojima || K-1 World GP 2018: K'FESTA.1 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Majority) || 3 || 3:00|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#cfc"| 2017-12-09 || Win ||align=left| Kaito || Krush 83 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00|-

|-| colspan=9 | Legend:

|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"| 2017-09-03|| Win ||align=left| Eiji Yoshida || K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Finals|| Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous)|| 3 || 2:00|-! style=background:white colspan=9 ||-|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"| 2017-09-03|| Win ||align=left| Akira Shirahama || K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Semifinals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous)|| 3 || 2:00|-|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"| 2017-09-03|| Win ||align=left| Tatsuro Yoshida || K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Quarterfinals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous)|| 3 || 2:00|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2014-08-03 || Win ||align=left| Motohiro Ito || BLOW-CUP 30 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous)|| 2 || 2:00|-|- style="background:#fbb;"| 2014-07-21 || Loss ||align=left| Yasunaga Miyamoto || K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Finals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Split)|| 3 || 2:00|-! style=background:white colspan=9 ||-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2014-07-21 || Win||align=left| Daichi Nonaka || K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Semifinals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous)|| 3 || 2:00|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2014-07-21 || Win||align=left| Ryuhei Mishima || K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Quarterfinals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous)|| 3 || 2:00|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2014-02-09 || Win||align=left| Yasunaga Miyamoto || J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament, Finals || Tokyo, Japan || Ext. R. Decision (Split)|| 2 || 3:00|-! style=background:white colspan=9 ||-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2014-02-09 || Win||align=left| Ryuhei Mishima || J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament, Semifinals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 1 || 3:00|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2014-02-09 || Win||align=left| Naoki Kobayashi || J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament, Quarterfinals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 1 || 3:00|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2013-09-22 || Win||align=left| Keima Saito || BLOW-CUP 20 || Tokyo, Japan || KO || 1 || 0:48|-|- style="background:#fbb;"| 2013-03-03 || Loss ||align=left| Pan Ryunson || BLOW-CUP 14 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 2 || 2:00|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2013-03-03 || Win||align=left| Yusuke Ami || BLOW-CUP 14 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 2 || 2:00|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2012-02-12 || Win||align=left| Kazuhiro Suzuki || BLOW-CUP 2|| Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 2 || 1:30|-| colspan=9 | Legend:

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aittama . Zach . Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: September 2022 . combatpress.com . 8 September 2022.
  2. Web site: krush.83 試合結果！ . bungelingbay.com . 8 September 2022.
  3. Web site: 武尊が3階級制覇「戦いたい奴はK-1に来い。逃げも隠れもしない」【3・21 K-1】 . tokyoheadline.com . 21 March 2018 . 8 September 2022.
  4. Web site: 【Krush】日本が6勝1敗で中国との対抗戦に勝ち越し。大将・卜部弘嵩は復帰戦で判定勝ち。左右田泰臣、レオナ・ペタスが殊勲のKO勝利＝7.22「Krush.90」 . note.com . 23 July 2018 . 8 September 2022.
  5. Web site: 【Krush】3人の新王者が誕生！ 江川優生「蹴ってからパンチ、パンチから蹴りのイメージだった」、鈴木勇人「左目が見えなくても自分の武器を信じて戦った」、晃貴「武尊くんに肩車してもらって撮るのが夢だった」＝1月26日 (土）「Krush.97」 . gonkaku.jp . 8 September 2022.
  6. Web site: 武林风中日对抗赛，目前武林风战队2:2日本队 . twgreatdaily.com . 8 September 2022.
  7. Web site: 王者となった兄・レオナに刺激受け「ベルト欲しくなった」。気持ち新たに挑む"KRUSH王座"への道【K-1ファイター 加藤虎於奈】 . king-gear.com . 8 September 2022.
  8. Web site: レオナ・ぺタス、加藤虎於奈が兄弟でKO競演 兄は武尊戦、弟は木村ミノル戦を大アピール . times.abema.tv . 17 December 2019 . 8 September 2022.
  9. Web site: 【Krush】トーナメント出場4選手が計量パス、近藤魁成「衝撃的なKOでチャンピオンになります」 . gonkaku.jp . 8 September 2022.
  10. Web site: Krush 11.27 後楽園ホール：フェザー級＆女子アトム級、王座目指す6選手ら計量クリア。玖村修平「レベルの差を見せる」 . boutreview.com . 26 November 2020 . 8 September 2022.
  11. Web site: 【Krush】加藤虎於奈、タイトル挑戦を実現させて「1月23日、24日は加藤兄弟の日にしたい」 . gonkaku.jp . 8 September 2022.
  12. Web site: 【Krush】加藤虎於奈が山際和希の王座に挑戦、兄・レオナと揃っての戴冠目指す＝1.23 . efight.jp . 3 December 2020 . 8 September 2022.
  13. Web site: 【Krush】加藤虎於奈が兄レオナ・ペタスと兄弟王者に、山際からダウン奪い快勝 . efight.jp . 23 January 2021 . 8 September 2022.
  14. Web site: 【Krush】王者・加藤虎於奈と挑戦者・松岡力、親友同士の二人は共に「明日は倒す」 . efight.jp . 22 April 2021 . 8 September 2022.
  15. Web site: 松岡力が加藤虎於奈からダウンを奪っての判定勝ちで王座獲得【Krush.124】 . tokyoheadline.com . 23 April 2021 . 8 September 2022.
  16. Web site: 【K-1】急遽本戦繰り上がり出場のFUMIYAが打倒・野杁正明に自信「僕の戦い方は普通のスタイルじゃない」 . gonkaku.jp . 8 September 2022.
  17. Web site: 【K-1】野杁正明「レベルが違う、それを証明するだけ」加藤虎於奈「予想をひっくり返せるのが自分」=4.3 . efight.jp . 23 March 2022 . 8 September 2022.
  18. Web site: 野杁正明が加藤虎於奈にワンサイドのKO勝ち。試合後に海人と安保瑠輝也に好対照なアンサー【K-1】 . tokyoheadline.com . 3 April 2022 . 8 September 2022.
  19. Web site: 【Krush】ダウン大量発生！池田幸司が予告通りのKO防衛、横山朋哉が逆転許さず2度のダウンで勝つ、加藤虎於奈がダウン奪い復活勝利、本戦10試合中9試合にダウンあり . gonkaku.jp . 25 February 2023.
  20. Web site: 【試合結果】アマチュアREBELS大会「BLOW-CUP.14」 . livedoor.jp . 8 September 2022.
  21. Web site: 第24回全日本新空手道選手権大会「G-1 GRAND PRIX2013」 . shinkarate.net . 8 September 2022.
  22. Web site: 【豪華副賞も進呈‼】12月14日(土)J-GROWアマチュア大会 . woodinville25.rssing.com . 8 September 2022.
  23. Web site: 第１回 K-1 CHALLENGE 2014 . k-1.co.jp . 21 July 2014 . 8 September 2022.
  24. Web site: 第18回K-1アマチュア チャレンジAクラス -70kgトーナメント 決勝 加藤虎於奈 . k-1.co.jp . 8 September 2022.

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