First, Akihiro Gono dropped to lightweight. Now, he will try his luck in the kickboxing ring, facing Yuya Yamamoto at Krush “The First Championship: Triple Final Round” on March 19.
After fighting in Pride FC as a middleweight, Gono made his lightweight debut in his last fight. He dropped a decision to Mongolian Jadamba Narantungalag at SRC 14. The loss snapped a three-fight winning streak for “The Magic Man.” During that stretch, he won fights over Yoon Young Kim, Hayato Sakurai and Diego Gonzalez.
Gono has also fought for the UFC and Pride FC. He went 1-2 in the UFC from 2007-2009. During his Pride FC career, he went 6-3 and picked up wins over Gegard Mousasi, Hector Lombard and Crosley Gracie.
Yamamoto won the K-1 World MAX 2009 Japan Tournament and held the AJKF welterweight championship. In his last fight, he scored a second-round knockout over Masakazu Watanabe on Jan. 9.
Krush began in 2008 as a joint venture between All Japan Kickboxing Federation and K-1. The bouts are contested under K-1 rules.
Touch of gloves to monster Japanese MMA site NightmareOfBattle.com.
This isnt Gono first time stepping in the kickboxing ring so heres hoping he does well again .
Truth. He won the All-Japan Heavyweight crown early in his career.