Masato's Retirement, photo credit FEG

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This night has been a while coming, and it doesn't make it easier. K-1 MAX Superstar Masato has decided to hang it up after tonight, where he meets the man who has defeated him twice, Andy Souwer. Masato wanted this, though, he wanted a chance to avenge the loss he could never overcome before he bowed out. Petrosyan, the current MAX Champion was injured, thus could not participate.

Usually when a fighter retires, there are a lot of compliments and words thrown around about them, and their last fight has a rather hollow, empty feeling to it. Instead, what fans got with Masato was Masato retiring at 30 years old while still on top of his game in a career-defining bout with Andy Souwer. Souwer never backed off in this fight, and many of the 5 epic rounds were scored as a draw, the true edge for Masato came when he dropped Souwer late in the fourth. Souwer came back with a rally like only he can, but Masato stood strong.

Both men put on a stand-up clinic and proved to many fans that K-1 is very different than any other sport in the world. Dynamite!! 2009 was a show that ran well over 8 hours if you were in the arena, airtime was just shy of 8 hours and regardless of that, Mastao and Andy Souwer landing precision shots is enough to give jolts of excitement to any fan no matter how worn down they are. Masato avenged the one loss that haunted him throughout his career and finishes as the true ace of K-1 MAX.

Watch this fight, you'll thank me.