In a major upset, Japan's Keijiro Maeda won the K-1 heavyweight title tournament Saturday at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Yokohama, beating Gokhan Saki by decision in the final.
It was a huge win for Maeda and for the Japanese fans, who sounded more stunned than elated to see their countryman win the K-1 heavyweight championship belt. Maeda advanced to the final by winning a semifinal fight in which he barely broke a sweat, needing only a couple minutes to knock out the heavily favored Melvin Manhoef, a muscular Dutchman who has had success in both kickboxing and MMA. Manhoef showed off a glass chin against Maeda, who KTFO'd him with a straight punch that didn't look like it had much on it.
It was a huge win for Maeda and for the Japanese fans, who sounded more stunned than elated to see their countryman win the K-1 heavyweight championship belt. Maeda advanced to the final by winning a semifinal fight in which he barely broke a sweat, needing only a couple minutes to knock out the heavily favored Melvin Manhoef, a muscular Dutchman who has had success in both kickboxing and MMA. Manhoef showed off a glass chin against Maeda, who KTFO'd him with a straight punch that didn't look like it had much on it.
