Instead of tapping gloves, Japiso raised his left hand—slowly—and pointed directly at Hoost’s face. Then he drew a line across his own throat.
While the Sapporo event featured "Revenge" matches and superfights, the broader 2006 K-1 season culminated in the in December.
– already a veteran with GP finals experience (2004 runner-up) – outclassed the field with disciplined boxing, superior ring IQ, and devastating body kicks. His victory at Japiso 1 secured his spot in the 2006 World GP Final Elimination. He would go on to lose to Peter Aerts in Seoul but remained a top Japanese contender.
: True to its "Revenge" subtitle, several matchups were rematches or featured fighters looking to bounce back from previous losses earlier in the 2006 season.