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Kona Kato (Japanese: 加藤虎於奈, Kato Kona, born March 23, 1996) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the welterweight division of K-1. A professional competitor since 2017, Kato is the former Krush welterweight champion.

As of September 2022, Combat Press ranks him as the tenth best super featherweight kickboxer in the world.

Kickboxing career

Early career

Kato made his professional debut against Kaito at Krush 83 on December 9, 2017. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. This victory earned Kato his K-1 debut, which took place against Ruku Kojima at K-1 World GP 2018: K'FESTA.1 on March 21, 2018. He lost the fight by a narrow unanimous decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–29 and 29–29.

After suffering his first professional loss, Kato was booked to face Kazuma Takekoshi at Krush 90 on July 22, 2018. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Kato next face Kaito in a rematch at Krush 97 on January 26, 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–26 and 30–27. Kato's two-fight winning streak was snapped by Chunyu Zhang, who beat him by unanimous decision at K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 103 on July 21, 2019.

Kato faced the former Krush welterweight titleholder and two-time welterweight title challenger Keita Makihira at K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 109 on December 15, 2019. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.

Kato was expected to face Riki Matsuoka at Krush 116 on August 29, 2020, in the semifinals of the 2020 Krush welterweight tournament. He was forced to withdraw due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Kazuki Yamagiwa. Kato was rescheduled to face Riki Matsuoka at Krush 119 on November 27, 2020. Matsuoka was disqualified from the bout at the 2:42 minute mark of the second round, after he threw an illegal knee inside of the clinch.

Krush welterweight champion

His two-fight winning streak earned Kato the right to challenge the reigning Krush Welterweight (-67.5 kg) champion Kazuki Yamagiwa, in what was the champion's first title defense. The title bout headlined Krush 121, which took place at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on January 23, 2021. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring it 30–26 for Kato, while the last judge scored the bout 30–27 in his favor. Kato knocked his opponent down with a left hook late in the third round, but was unable to finish him before the fight ended.

Kato made his first Krush title defense against Riki Matsuoka in the main event of Krush 124 on April 23, 2021. The bout was a rematch of their November 27, 2020, fight, which ended in a disqualification win for Kato, due to an illegal clinch knee. He failed to repeat his success however, as Matsuoka won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 30–27 and 29–28.

Post title reign

Kato was expected to face the former K-1 World GP Super Lightweight Champion Masaaki Noiri in the quarterfinals of the 2021 K-1 Welterweight World Grand Prix at K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri on September 20, 2021. He was forced to withdraw after contracting COVID-19 and was replaced by FUMIYA. Kota was rescheduled to face Noiri, the newly crowned K-1 welterweight champion, at K-1: K'Festa 5 on April 3, 2022. He lost the fight by a second-round technical knockout, as his corner threw in the towel in the final minute of the round. It was the first stoppage loss of Kato's professional career.

Kato faced Koki at Krush 146 on February 25, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 29–28 and 29–27.

Championships and accomplishments

Professional

• Krush
  • Krush Welterweight (-67.5 kg) Championship

Amateur

• 2013 REBELS BLOW CUP "Best Fight" Award (vs. Yusuke Ami)
• 2013 Shin Karate G-1 Grand Prix Light Middleweight Runner-up
• 2014 J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament Winner
• 2014 K-1 Challenge A-Class -70 kg Tournament Runner-up
• 2017 K-1 Challenge A-Class -70 kg Tournament Winner and Tournament MVP

Fight record

Professional Kickboxing Record

7 Wins (3 (T)KO's), 4 Loss, 0 Draw, 0 No Contest
Date	Result	Opponent	Event	Location	Method	Round	Time
2023-02-25	Win	Koki	Krush 146	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2022-04-03	Loss	Masaaki Noiri	K-1: K'Festa 5	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (Corner stoppage)	2	2:17
2021-04-23	Loss	Riki Matsuoka	Krush 124	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
Lost the Krush Welterweight (-67.5 kg) title.
2021-01-23	Win	Kazuki Yamagiwa	Krush 121	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
Won the Krush Welterweight (-67.5 kg) title.
2020-11-27	Win	Riki Matsuoka	Krush 119	Tokyo, Japan	DQ (Illegal knee)	2	2:42
2019-12-15	Win	Keita Makihira	K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 109	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (Punches)	2	2:48
2019-07-21	Loss	Chunyu Zhang	K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 103	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2019-01-26	Win	Kaito	Krush 97	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2018-07-22	Win	Kazuma Takekoshi	Krush 90	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (Three knockdowns)	1	1:29
2018-03-21	Loss	Ruku Kojima	K-1 World GP 2018: K'FESTA.1	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Majority)	3	3:00
2017-12-09	Win	Kaito	Krush 83	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Amateur Kickboxing Record

Date	Result	Opponent	Event	Location	Method	Round	Time
2017-09-03	Win	Eiji Yoshida	K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Finals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	2:00
Won the 2017 K-1 Challenge A-Class -70 kg Tournament title.
2017-09-03	Win	Akira Shirahama	K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Semifinals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	2:00
2017-09-03	Win	Tatsuro Yoshida	K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Quarterfinals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	2:00
2014-08-03	Win	Motohiro Ito	BLOW-CUP 30	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	2	2:00
2014-07-21	Loss	Yasunaga Miyamoto	K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Finals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Split)	3	2:00
For the 2014 K-1 Challenge A-Class -70 kg Tournament title.
2014-07-21	Win	Daichi Nonaka	K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Semifinals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	2:00
2014-07-21	Win	Ryuhei Mishima	K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Quarterfinals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	2:00
2014-02-09	Win	Yasunaga Miyamoto	J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament, Finals	Tokyo, Japan	Ext. R. Decision (Split)	2	3:00
Won the 2014 J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament title.
2014-02-09	Win	Ryuhei Mishima	J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament, Semifinals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	1	3:00
2014-02-09	Win	Naoki Kobayashi	J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament, Quarterfinals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	1	3:00
2013-09-22	Win	Keima Saito	BLOW-CUP 20	Tokyo, Japan	KO	1	0:48
2013-03-03	Loss	Pan Ryunson	BLOW-CUP 14	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	2	2:00
2013-03-03	Win	Yusuke Ami	BLOW-CUP 14	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	2	2:00
2012-02-12	Win	Kazuhiro Suzuki	BLOW-CUP 2	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	2	1:30
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

• List of male kickboxers
• List of Krush champions

References

1. Aittama, Zach. "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: September 2022". combatpress.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
2. "krush.83 試合結果！". bungelingbay.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
3. "武尊が3階級制覇「戦いたい奴はK-1に来い。逃げも隠れもしない」【3・21 K-1】". tokyoheadline.com. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
4. "【Krush】日本が6勝1敗で中国との対抗戦に勝ち越し。大将・卜部弘嵩は復帰戦で判定勝ち。左右田泰臣、レオナ・ペタスが殊勲のKO勝利＝7.22「Krush.90」". note.com. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
5. "【Krush】3人の新王者が誕生！ 江川優生「蹴ってからパンチ、パンチから蹴りのイメージだった」、鈴木勇人「左目が見えなくても自分の武器を信じて戦った」、晃貴「武尊くんに肩車してもらって撮るのが夢だった」＝1月26日 (土）「Krush.97」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
6. "武林风中日对抗赛，目前武林风战队2:2日本队". twgreatdaily.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
7. "王者となった兄・レオナに刺激受け「ベルト欲しくなった」。気持ち新たに挑む"KRUSH王座"への道【K-1ファイター 加藤虎於奈】". king-gear.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
8. "レオナ・ぺタス、加藤虎於奈が兄弟でKO競演 兄は武尊戦、弟は木村ミノル戦を大アピール". times.abema.tv. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
9. "【Krush】トーナメント出場4選手が計量パス、近藤魁成「衝撃的なKOでチャンピオンになります」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
10. "Krush 11.27 後楽園ホール：フェザー級＆女子アトム級、王座目指す6選手ら計量クリア。玖村修平「レベルの差を見せる」". boutreview.com. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
11. "【Krush】加藤虎於奈、タイトル挑戦を実現させて「1月23日、24日は加藤兄弟の日にしたい」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
12. "【Krush】加藤虎於奈が山際和希の王座に挑戦、兄・レオナと揃っての戴冠目指す＝1.23". efight.jp. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
13. "【Krush】加藤虎於奈が兄レオナ・ペタスと兄弟王者に、山際からダウン奪い快勝". efight.jp. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
14. "【Krush】王者・加藤虎於奈と挑戦者・松岡力、親友同士の二人は共に「明日は倒す」". efight.jp. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
15. "松岡力が加藤虎於奈からダウンを奪っての判定勝ちで王座獲得【Krush.124】". tokyoheadline.com. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
16. "【K-1】急遽本戦繰り上がり出場のFUMIYAが打倒・野杁正明に自信「僕の戦い方は普通のスタイルじゃない」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
17. "【K-1】野杁正明「レベルが違う、それを証明するだけ」加藤虎於奈「予想をひっくり返せるのが自分」=4.3". efight.jp. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
18. "野杁正明が加藤虎於奈にワンサイドのKO勝ち。試合後に海人と安保瑠輝也に好対照なアンサー【K-1】". tokyoheadline.com. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
19. "【Krush】ダウン大量発生！池田幸司が予告通りのKO防衛、横山朋哉が逆転許さず2度のダウンで勝つ、加藤虎於奈がダウン奪い復活勝利、本戦10試合中9試合にダウンあり". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
20. "【試合結果】アマチュアREBELS大会「BLOW-CUP.14」". livedoor.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
21. "第24回全日本新空手道選手権大会「G-1 GRAND PRIX2013」". shinkarate.net. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
22. "【豪華副賞も進呈‼】12月14日(土)J-GROWアマチュア大会". woodinville25.rssing.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
23. "第１回 K-1 CHALLENGE 2014". k-1.co.jp. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
24. "第18回K-1アマチュア チャレンジAクラス -70kgトーナメント 決勝 加藤虎於奈". k-1.co.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.

• Living people
• 1996 births
• Japanese male kickboxers
• People from Iruma, Saitama
• Martial artists from Saitama Prefecture