TOKYO — 
Giorgio Petrosyan once again proved that he is the best kickboxer in the world as he won an unprecedented second consecutive K-1 WORLD MAX GP at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. The prohibitive favorite, Petrosyan defeated Albert Kraus, Mike Zambidis and finally Yoshihiro Sato all by unanimous decision to capture his second K-1 crown.
Both Kraus and Sato were picked apart through three rounds, barely managing to hit the Italian and finding themselves punished with cracking kicks and punches after every mistake. Mike Zambidis put on the best show against the champion as he recovered from a disastrous first round where he was unable to touch Petrosyan, to draw him into an entertaining fire-fight in the second and third rounds but Petrosyan’s knees and counter punching once again saw him reign supreme and he barely took a step backwards against the heavy-hitting Greek.
In the sole MMA rules match on the card, Beijing Judo Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii defeated Katsuyori Shibata by kimura in the first round, breaking the pro-wrestler’s arm at the elbow with the lock. Shibata had little to offer the judoka and as dominated positionally on the ground before getting his arm broken.
One year of 70kg (154-pound) K-1 action will finally reach a climax on Monday as the reigning champion and the world’s best kickboxer 
K-1 President Sadaharu Tanigawa announced a near completed card for the K-1 World MAX GP FINAL 16 to be held on October 3 in Seoul, South Korea.