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For almost a year now, Masato has been very clear about his plans for 2009 - fight three fights culminating in a New Year's Eve bout with the MAX champion, then retire.  For the most part, things have gone according to plan, though there have been a few hiccups.  Before the MAX finals, K-1 began floating the idea that Masato might not face the MAX champion, but instead some other fighter.  This possibility seemed to be eliminated after the GP when Masato challenged Petrosyan, but the champ's broken hand will keep him out of the fight, and Masato will indeed face Andy Souwer.

Now, the Japanese press is asking an interesting question: will Masato actually walk away on New Year's Eve?  Rumors have begun to surface of Masato possibly withdrawing his retirement, using the desire to fight Petrosyan as an excuse.  While the Japanese press is notoriously unreliable, and all their reporting should be treated with some skepticism, this remains an interesting and valid question.

As we've talked about all year, in many ways (and particularly for Japanese fans), Masato IS K-1 MAX.  He is the poster-boy, the Ace, the one true star and the reason to watch.  With Masato gone, there is a very real fear that interest in MAX will dwindle.  There are early indications from ratings and ticket sales for the MAX finals that this is not the case for now at least, but truly we just won't know until next year.  If things begin to go south for MAX, the remedy will be clear - bring back Masato.  And in this particular case, that is a real possibility.  Unlike almost all retirees in combat sports, Masato is not far past his prime and over the hill.  He remains at the top of his game, and a fighter who could easily continue competing.  Because of this, if the company comes calling, and the price and opponent are right, is there anything preventing Masato from fighting again?

At this point it's far too vague to definitively say that these rumors have any basis.  But at the same time, they do make you wonder - will this really be the absolute, final time Masato ever steps into a kickboxing ring?  Looking at the precedent of "retired" fighters like Randy Couture, Ernesto Hoost, Frank Shamrock and countless others makes you wonder.  While we probably won't see Masato as the MAX champion in 2010, the possibility of seeing him fight once again in the future can't be disregarded.