Toma Tanabe Scores Stunning First-Round Knockout to Capture ISKA World Title

Kyoto, Japan — May 10th, 2026 — The inaugural NOVA professional event made a spectacular debut in Kyoto as Kazutaka Tanabe presented an exciting night of world-class kickboxing action at the Galleria Kameoka.

The event featured an ISKA World Championship main event under K-1 Rules for the Featherweight division at 57kg, bringing together Japan’s rising star Toma Tanabe and reigning ISKA World Champion Hamada Azmani of Morocco.

In one of the most explosive finishes of the year, Tanabe shocked the crowd by knocking out Azmani within the first minute of the opening round. A perfectly timed and powerful right hand ended the fight instantly, giving the Japanese fighter a dramatic victory and the ISKA World Featherweight title.

The knockout victory marked a major moment for Japanese kickboxing and a memorable beginning for the NOVA professional series, with fans in Kyoto witnessing a world championship performance that will be remembered for years to come.

The successful event highlighted the growing international reach of ISKA competition and showcased the continued strength of Japan’s kickboxing scene on the global stage.