2004 and 2006 K-1 World MAX Champion Buakaw Por. Pramuk could be slowly returning to the form that once saw him dominate the K-1 ranks as he captured the Shoot Boxing S-Cup at JCB Hall in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday. Buakaw’s possible return to form is noteworthy but what really raised eyebrows was the performance of two-time Bellator tournament finalist Toby Imada.
Imada, best known for his 2009 submission of the year – an inverted triangle on Jorge Masvidal, is a grappling specialist with 17 submissions to his name but in his Shoot Boxing debut he took out the best Shoot Boxing has to offer – 2002, 2004 and 2008 S-Cup Champion and 2005, 2007 K-1 MAX Champion Andy Souwer.
Imada first knocked out Japanese Super-Welterweight Champion Takaaki Umeno in the final second of their bout, then took a split decision over Souwer before finally falling to leg kicks of Buakaw in the S-Cup finals.