Koya Urabe

Koya Urabe (卜部功也) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the lightweight division of K-1.

He is the former K-1 Lightweight champion, the former K-1 Super Featherweight champion and a two-time K-1 World Super Featherweight Grand Prix winner.

As of January 2023, he is ranked as the sixth best super bantamweight kickboxer in the world by Combat Press, who have ranked him in the super bantamweight top ten since September 2020.

Urabe made his professional kickboxing debut against Shinichiro Ishii at Krush.2 on March 14, 2009.

He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.

Urabe faced the one-time AJKF bantamweight title challenger Shota Takiya at Krush.3 on May 17, 2009.

Despite the contest taking place at -60 kg, Takiya weighed in at 55.1 kg at the official weigh-ins, while Urabe came in at 59.1 kg. Urabe won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 30–29 in his favor.

Urabe faced Toshiki Taniyama in a superfight at the 2009 K-1 Koshien FINAL 16, which took place on August 10, 2009.

He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring every round of the bout for him.

Urabe faced Koichi Kaneda at MA Japan Kickboxing: TEKKEN in Kimitsu on September 6, 2009, in his first fight outside of Krush.

He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Urabe returned to Krush to face Yukinori Nagano at Krush.4 on September 22, 2009.

He won the fight by split decision, after an extra fourth round was contested.

Urabe faced the 2009 RISE Super Featherweight Rookies Cup winner Fumiya Osawa at Krush-EX - Shinjuku Dog Fight on December 4, 2009.

Prior to the fight taking place, Urabe left Nishiyama Dojo and began training at Team Dragon.

He won the fight by a third-round knockout.

Urabe faced the 2009 Krush Rookies tournament winner Takuya Shirahama in the semifinals and was able to overcome him by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–27 and 30–28.

He failed to capture the championship however, as he lost by majority decision to Ryuji Kajiwara in the finals.

Urabe faced King Kohei in his final fight at super featherweight, before moving up to lightweight, at Krush-EX - New Generation on February 19, 2010.

He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Urabe faced Shusuke Oishi in a non-tournament bout at the 2010 K-1 World MAX opening round event, which took place on May 2, 2010.

He won the fight by unanimous decision.

The ringside officials scored the first two round 10–9 in his favor, while the third round was scored 10–10 by all three judges.

Urabe faced the former two-time Martial Arts Japan Kickboxing Federation super featherweight champion Yuji Takeuchi on July 5, 2010, in the reserve bout of the 2010 K-1 World MAX tournament.

He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Urabe faced the 2010 K-1 MAX Japan lightweight tournament winner Tetsuya Yamato at Krush.10 on September 20, 2010.

In front of an audience of 1,800 people, he won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 30–26 for him.

Urabe knocked his opponent down in the first round with a right straight.

His ten-fight undefeated streak earned Urabe a place in the 2011 Krush First Generation King Tournament, held to crown the inaugural Krush Lightweight champion.

Urabe faced Lee Sung-hyun] in the tournament quarterfinals on January 9, 2011.

The fight was ruled a unanimous decision draw after the first three rounds were contested, with all three judges scoring it an even 29–29.

Urabe was awarded the unanimous decision victory following the extra fourth round.

The final two bouts of the tournament both took place on the same day, on April 30, 2011.

Thanks to his prior success, Urabe was place in the 2011 K-1 MAX Japan Lightweight Grand Prix, which took place on June 25, 2011.

He faced the reigning RISE super featherweight champion Yuki in the tournament quarterfinals.

Urabe won the fight by majority decision, with two scorecards of 29–28 and one scorecard of 29–29.

He advanced to the semifinals of the one-day tournament, where he faced Tetsuya Yamato, whom he had beaten by unanimous decision nine months prior.

Urabe was able to win the rematch by unanimous decision as well, with two judges scoring the bout 30–29 in his favor, while the third judge awarded him a 30–27 scorecard.

Urabe once again came up short in a tournament final however, as he suffered a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Yuta Kubo.

He was ranked in the bantamweight top ten by Combat Press between April 2018 and August 2020.