Former K-1 Champion Yuki Yoza wasn’t always the destructive force he is today. It was a trait he didn’t seem to have in his early days. He wasn’t one to watch among his peers. But by hook or by crook, Yoza’s killer instinct eventually came alive.
The 27-year-old makes his ONE Championship debut this Friday, May 23, at ONE Friday Fights 109. There, he takes on unbeaten Russian star Elbrus Osmanov in bantamweight kickboxing inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Yoza’s start in combat sports began in the Japanese art of Kyokushin karate. Many of the greatest martial artists in the world got their start in the discipline. Among them include Ewerton Teixeira, Sam Greco, MMA icon Georges St-Pierre, and many others.
Combat sports didn’t come naturally to Yoza, though. Some children have a natural tenacity about them. It’s clear to see their potential from the moment they step on the mats.
That couldn’t be said for Yoza. Instead of showing that finishing instinct, Yoza was looked at as a soft kid. He didn’t want to hurt his training partners, or opponents.
It’s a stark contrast to the man deemed as the next Mike Tyson. Today, he’s amassed a 19-2 record in the sport, with a 10-fight winning streak to boot.
“I began karate at age six. This might sound funny coming from me, but I was actually too gentle back then, which worried my mother,” he said.
“She took me to a karate dojo, and I said I wanted to do it. My younger brother also practices karate.”
