K-1 World MAX 2009 Tournament Final 16 finalized for April 21

Japan’s Fighting & Entertainment Group (FEG) has finalized the card for its upcoming ‘K-1 World MAX 2009 Tournament Final 16’ event which takes place on April 21 from the Marine Messe Arena in Fukoka, Japan.

For fans in the states it will be broadcast on HDNet at a later date — Friday, April 24, at 10 p.m. ET.

The event will kick off the promotions K-1 MAX (154lbs) Tournament which will get started with the Round of 16 and be host to a abundance of familiar faces.

Former two-time K-1 MAX Champion Buakaw Por. Pramuk will be in action. He takes on Universidade da luta (home of the Rua brothers) standout Andre "Dida" Amade in what should be a thrilling showdown.

Last years runner up in the Tournament, 22-year-old prospect Artur Kyshenko is set to do battle with Dutch kickboxing stylist Alviar Lima in his opening round bout.

K-1 MAX Japan Tournament champion Takayuki Kohiruimaki was forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout with Chi Bin Lim due to an ankle injury. Stepping up to take his place will be the runner up of the Japan Tournament Yuya Yamamoto.

Yoshihiro Sato who is coming off a thrilling knockout win over Sergey Golyaev the man who shocked the world by besting former Lightweight kingpin Taknori Gomi will collide with Gago Drago.

Also on the card will be K-1 legend Masato taking on K-1 U-18 Koshien Tournament winner HIROYA, who is only 17-years-old and being touted as the future of K-1 MAX.

The bout will be contested under special exhibition rules and will only be three minutes long.

Masato recently held a press conference to announce his retirement from K-1. Before he hangs up the gloves for good he plans to have two more fights. One in July against an opponent the fans want to see him against the most (whoever that may be) and he also looks to take on the winner of this years K-1 MAX Tournament on New Year's Eve in his farewell match.

Here is the official card for ‘K-1 World MAX 2009 Tournament Final 16:'

K-1 World MAX 2009 Tournament Final 16:

Yuya Yamamoto (5-5) vs. Chi Bin Lim (9-6)
Andy Souwer (17-3) vs. Leroy Keastner (0-0)
Nieky Holtzken (1-1) vs. Chahid Oulad El Hadj (0-0)
Artur Kyshenko (10-2) vs. Alviar Lima (1-1)
Giorgio Petrosyan (0-0) vs. Dzhabar Askerov (0-0)
Yoshihiro Sato (13-8) vs. Gago Drago (5-5)
Buakaw Por. Pramuk (23-4) vs. Andre Amade (1-0)
Albert Kraus (23-10-1) vs. Youichiro Nagashima (1-1)

K-1 World MAX 2009 Tournament Reserve Bout:
Yasuhiro Kido (7-4) vs. Su Hwan Lee (8-7)

Exhibition Match:
Masato (34-4-1) vs. HIROYA (12-1)

Opening Fights:
Masahiro Yamamoto (0-0 vs. Yuki (0-0)
Kazuki Yamasaki (5-3-3) vs. Hareruya (0-0)
TATSUJI (8-5) vs. RYUJI (0-1)