Mona Kimura and Alassane Kamara step into the spotlight at “K-1 GENKI 2026,” as the promotion unveiled nine new fights for the April 11 show at Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium in Tokyo. There are already three world title fights on the night, and this latest wave of matchups adds depth with Japanese veterans, rising domestic names and an international standout in the mix. With the date and location set, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in central Tokyo, K-1 considers this a key event on the 2026 calendar under the direction of producer Genki Sudo.
K-1 GENKI 2026
One of the most interesting new matchups is the K-1 Super lightweight match between Japan’s Daizo Sasaki and Senegalese Alassane Kamara. A former Krush Super Lightweight Champion, Sasaki is coming off a winning streak in 2024 and a solid rebounding performance in 2025 after a close loss earlier that year. He tends to operate with clean timing, measured movements and a heavy right hand, which could be a counterpoint to Kamara’s more aggressive, forward driving style.
Kamara, who trains at Emergence Le Havre in France, has a background in Savate, the French foot fencing discipline that combines kicking, boxing hands and smooth side movements. He got his first real appearance on the K-1 stage as a late replacement in the quarterfinals of the K-1 WORLD MAX 2025 –70 kg Tournament against Darryl Verdonk, throwing a large number of punches and kicks and applying constant pressure. With a string of wins and -75kg Savate titles on his record, Kamara is expected to pick up the pace and force Sasaki to keep his distance rather than stand and trade. If Sasaki can time his counters and stay disciplined, he can slow down Kamara; if Kamara can swarm early, he could put the Japanese veteran on his heels.
Mona Kimura
On the women’s side, Mona Kimura gets another standout position to match her current rise in the K-1 flyweight division. The 52kg fighter from Mizuho, Gifu, is 3-0 as a professional with two finishes, all under 2.5 minutes, and all under the K-1 banner. Her record includes a second-round TKO over veteran Satoko Ozawa at Krush 177 in June 2025, where she used sharp southpaw leads, stiff side kicks and repeated pressure to force the referee to stop the fight. Her movement and timing have earned her the nickname ‘Mona Mae Geri’, especially because of her sharp front kicks
50 Cent has described Mona Kimura as a real-life Chun-Li.
Kimura’s foundation comes from both karate and amateur boxing, which she has converted into a compact, efficient kickboxing style with good distance control and short burst finishes. She won gold at the Japan Junior Women’s National Championships and represented Japan at the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, giving her a technical foundation that translates well into the rhythm and pace of kickboxing. Her GENKI 2026 appearance is being framed as a step closer to the top level of the women’s flyweight division, with K-1’s promotional push pointing to her as a building block for the long term.
In addition to these two headline matchups, the card also leans into several Japanese-versus-Japanese fights at lightweight, bantamweight and super-bantamweight. Featherweight Haruto Matsumoto of TAD takes on Eiki Kurata of K‑1 Gym Sagami‑Ono KREST in a three-round fight favoring volume and switching pressure; both fighters tend to work with active left kicks and steady output. At bantamweight, Team VASILEUS’ Eito Kurokawa collides with Striker Gym’s Kojiro Shiba, while K‑1 Gym Sohonbu’s Yusei Shirahata meets Team Pegasus Neigo Katono of POWER OF DREAM, adding a deeper layer of technical attackers and emerging contenders to the card.
Filling out the super bantamweight division are Kengo Murata of ALONZA ABLAZE and Haruto of K‑1 Gym Sohonbu Team Pegasus, another duo that relies on timing, feints and measured exchanges. On the women’s side, POWER OF DREAM’s Noriko Ikeuchi and FLAT UP GYM’s Melty Kira are scheduled for a three-round flyweight bout that will likely come down to defense, movement and smart bodywork. The preliminary card kicks off with Kubo Gym’s Tyson Suzuki facing Shikon Murakami Juku’s Hiroto at super bantamweight, followed by a lightweight matchup between K-1 Gym Sohonbu Team Pegasus’ Naoki Inose and Dojo Shakariki’s Sera, who is making her professional debut.
For the public, the April 11 map provides a solid snapshot of where K-1 is now, with battles that matter for both short-term interests and long-term division direction.
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