Roël Mannaart won the K-1 heavyweight title in Japan. The Dutchman defeated the Croatian Antonio Plazibat on Wednesday. After three rounds, he was selected as the winner by the jury.

Mannaart entered the fight as a challenger, but managed to keep his head cool throughout the fight. He fought from a closed cover and held the middle of the ring, so his Croatian opponent barely managed to create damage.

The son of four-time world champion André Mannaart also proved conditionally stronger. The Croat had trouble defending and therefore also suffered a lot of punches on his head and liver, so Mannaart took the win.

The K-1 was declared bankrupt a few years ago, but is currently undergoing a revival in Japan. In the past, the Netherlands were extremely successful, Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts, Remy Bonjasky, Semmy Schilt and Alistair Overeem all won the K-1 World Grand Prix.