Takahito Niimi
Takahito Niimi (新美貴士, born 26 September 1993) is a Japanese kickboxer competing in the featherweight division of K-1/Krush. He is the current Krush Featherweight champion. As of July 2021, he was the #3 ranked Super Flyweight in the world by Combat Press. Kickboxing career. Early career. Niimi made his professional debut against Sho Yamaguchi at HOOST CUP KINGS NAGOYA 4 - Kick Revolution on May 20, 2018. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Niimi was scheduled to make his second professional appearance against TETSU at Krush.92 ～in NAGOYA～ on August 18, 2018 . He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30-29, 30-28 and 30-28. Niimi suffered his first professional loss against Ryuto Matsumoto at Suk Wanchai MuayThai Super Fight vol.5 on September 24, 2018, who won their bout by unanimous decision. Niimi rebounded by winning his next two fights against Takato and Yue Heng by stoppage. Early K-1 career. Niimi was scheduled to face Rikiya Yamaura at KHAOS 8 on June 1, 2019. He won the fight by a third-round knockout, stopping Yamaura with repeated low kicks. Niimi was scheduled to face Toma Tanabe at on  August 24, 2019. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 30-28 for Toma. Niimi was scheduled to fight Tenma Sano at Krush 107 on November 8, 2019. He won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 29-29, 28-29 and 28-29. For his sixth fight of the year, Niimi was scheduled to face Naoki Takahashi at on December 28, 2019. Niimi won the fight by unanimous decision. His two-fight winning streak was snapped by Keito Okajima at Krush 114 on July 11, 2020, who their bout by unanimous  decision. Krush Featherweight champion. Krush Featherweight tournament. Niimi participated in the 2020 Krush Featherweight tournament, organized to crown the new champion as the title was left vacant by Yuki Egawa on February 3, 2020. He was scheduled to face Shuhei Kumura at Krush 119 on November 27, 2020, in the tournament semifinals. Niimi won the fight by unanimous decision. Advancing to the tournament finals, Niimi faced Riku Morisaka. The fight was ruled a draw after the first three rounds were fought, with two of the judges scoring the bout as a draw (29-29 and 30-30), while the third  judge scored it 30-29 in Niimi's favor. Accordingly, an extension rounds was fought, after which Niimi won a unanimous decision. Title reign. Niimi was scheduled to make his first title defense against the undefeated Toma Tanabe at Krush 122 on February 27, 2021. The fight was a rematch of their August 24, 2019 meeting, which Toma won by unanimous decision. Niimi won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 30-28, 29-28 and 28-28. For his second title defense, Niimi was scheduled to fight Keito Okajima at Krush 114 on June 25, 2021. The fight  was likewise a rematch of the July 11, 2020 meeting, which Okajima won by unanimous decision. Niimi won the fight by first-round knockout, stopping Okajima 16 seconds into the round. Niimi was scheduled to face Taito Gunji at on September 20, 2021. Niimi was unable to find much success against Taito and lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30-29, 30-29 and 30-27. Niimi was scheduled to make his third Krush title defense against Tatsuki Shinotsuka at Krush 132 on December 18, 2021. He won the fight by a second-round knockout. Niimi knocked  Shinotsuka down as soon as the fight started with a combination of a right hook and left straight, although he was unable to finish him in the remaining three minutes. He knocked Shinotsuka three more times in the second round, which forced the referee to wave the fight off. Niimi was booked to face the former K-1 Featherweight titleholder Tatsuya Tsubakihara at on April 3, 2022. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–29 in Tsubakihara's favor, and one 30–28 scorecard. Nimii was scheduled to mae his fourth  Krush featherweight title defense against Shuhei Kumura at Krush 137 on May 21, 2022. Fight record. ! style=background:white | ! style=background:white | ! style=background:white | ! style=background:white | ! style=background:white |