TOKYO, July 7, 2008 -- Japanese kickboxer Yoshihiro Sato, 27, upset two-time K-1 World Max Champion Buakaw Por Pramuk of Thailand tonight at the K-1 World Max 2008 World Championship Tournament Final 8. In the evening's Main Event, Japanese kickboxer Masato defeated Armenian fighter Drago.

With thunderclouds blanketing the Tokyo sky, the air hung hot and humid inside the historic Nippon Budokan. A full house of more than 11,000 turned out for the fightsport extravaganza, which comprised four World Max Championship elimination bouts, along with four one-match World Max bouts; a trio of contests in a new 60kg/150lbs weight class, and a pair of K-1 Youth bouts.

With its 70kg/154lbs weight class, the K-1 World Max Series is one of the most popular fightsport championships anywhere. The World Max tournament format has been modified for 2008 with the introduction of a new, three-stage final. The winners of regional qualifying events held earlier this year in Japan, Holland, South Korea and Poland joined last year's best at the Hiroshima Final 16 one-match elimination in April. The eighth winners from Hiroshima went head-to-head tonight in a one-match format, with victors advancing to the October World Max Final.

First up in the elimination bouts was a contest between Japanese kickboxer Yasuhiro Kido, who won this year's World Max Japan tournament; and 21 year-old Ukrainian muay thai fighter Artur Kyshenko, who brought a World Max record of five wins and two losses to the ring.

A dozen Kido low kicks to start, Kyshenko looking to punch before shifting gears and responding with kicks of his own. The technical Kido had the better legwork through the first round, although Kyshenko blocked the high stuff. In round two, Kyshenko threw tight combinations to effect, closing to work the body. Kido looked to be in trouble here, although he planted a knee late in the round to keep it close. In the third Kyshenko showed he can throw low kicks as well, repeatedly stinging Kido's left knee and closing with the fists. Kido kept coming back, but his knees and high kicks were ably blocked. A unanimous decision, securing Kyshenko a spot in the World Max Final.

"Kido talked a lot before the fight," said Kyshenko afterward. "He said I have a weak mind, but I didn't say anything because I wanted to show in the ring that my soul and spirit are strong. He tried to surprise me in the first round with some tricky stuff, and when he started throwing low kicks I threw low kicks back, because I wanted to show I could beat him at his own game."

The second of the Final 8 matchups saw two-time and Defending World Max Champion Andy Souwer of the Netherlands taking on K-1 World Max Europe 2008 Champion Warren Stevelmans of South Africa.

Exchanges of hard low kicks to start, Souwer with the edge in power, Stevelmans building better combinations -- stepping forward to pound in body blows. Souwer made his mark late in the first with a punishing knee that was the strike of the round. Stevelmans was pesky again in the second, snapping in low kicks and closing to work the body, landing a good hook, blocking a Souwer knee. In the third the circling Souwer suddenly launched a right hook that sent Stevelmans reeling across the ring. Souwer gave chase, but Stevelmans stayed on his feet, mounting an able defense with low kicks and straight punches. Souwer managed another hard knee before the end of the round to cement it. A unanimous decision for Souwer.

"Warren is powerful, tough an explosive," said Souwer afterward, "so I had to watch out because I knew he could change everything with one punch. But I think my experience made the difference in this fight. Now that I'm going to the final in October, I'm confident that I can defend my title."

The third qualification bout had two-time World Max Japan Champion Yoshihiro Sato taking on two-time World Max Champion Buakaw Por Pramuk of Thailand. These two had already fought twice, Buakaw winning both times.

Sato, who stands 11cm/4" taller than Buakaw, has used his knees to effect against other opponents. But here Buakaw worked the distance well, tossing in low kicks, leading with the left and throwing the hard right through the first. In the second, Buakaw kept the left arm extended far forward, and turned sideways he didn't give Sato much to hit. Again the Thai master controlled the distance with front kicks before exploding with the right. Frenzied action at the clapper, Sato in with an uppercut, Buakaw landing a right straight.

Buakaw was Buakaw again in the third -- ahead on all cards, he might have figured on coasting to victory -- as he coolly snapped the front and low kicks, coming in with the right straight, his positioning and evasions almost perfect.

Almost, because then it happened. Amid a punching exchange near the ropes, with both fighters swinging, Sato in the blink of an eye exploited an opening and found the side of his opponent's jaw with a right straight punch. The pair's relative momentum conspired against Buakaw, and the fighter many regard as virtually unbeatable went down hard. Buakaw lay motionless for a long time, and as a shocked silence gave way to a roar from the crowd, Sato leapt atop the corner posts in delirious celebration.

"I think the biggest reason I won this fight was that I did what I planned," said Sato in his post-fight interview. "My tactic was to watch Buakaw in the first round, move in more aggressively in the second round, and then make a dash to finish him in the third. I kept saying that luck has been following me, and today I was also very lucky! Both my punches and low kicks were good, and my shin became very tough as a result of my hard training."

"I also did weight training before this fight," continued Sato, "it was the first time I've done that, and it was very effective as I felt my punches were very powerful. I'll keep working on this for the final in October."

The last of the Final 8 bouts featured Japanese uber-kickboxer Masato, who won the World Max Championship in 2003 and finished second last year, taking on Armenian muay thai stylist Drago.

Nonstop action in this bout, Masato setting the pace early with low kicks and rapid-fire straight and body punching combinations. Drago held his guard high and close, and Masato's incessant attacks had the effect of keeping it that way through most of the fight, although Drago did come across with a quick right straight punch and a high kick in the first. When Drago dropped his guard and let out a yell, the unshakeable Masato simply fired in a right to shut him up.

Masato's shock and awe strategy continued through