Masato beats Souwer in last fight

Masato, Japan's most-successful kick-boxer, has brought his illustrious thirteen-year career to an end with a win over Holland's Andy Souwer.

The fight was a rare five round K-1 match, which gave Masato's legions of fans an extended opportunity to see him in action; and action they got. In stark contrast to some of the other out of shape fighters on the less-than Dynamite line-up, both Masato and Souwer showed why they are both worthy ex-champions.

Masato took the first round, with the second and third more even. The fourth, however, saw Souwer put down by a right counter, although he quickly recovered and came back strongly against Masato for the rest of the round and in the fifth. Masato was ahead on points all the way and took the fight by decision. Immediately after the result was announced, Souwer hoisted Masato onto his shoulders in a display of sportsmanship and respect, and afterward, the retiring thirty-year-old received gifts from well-wishers - including Souwer and his son - and signed autographs for waiting fans.

The night also saw the MMA debut of judo gold medallist Satoshi Ishii, whose fight with forty-year-old Hidehiko Yoshida was a pretty lacklustre affair which, more than anything, showed that both lack stamina.