Riki Matsuoka

Matsuoka made his Krush debut against Toshiki Watanabe at Krush 84 on January 27, 2018. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout, after thrice knocking Watanabe down.[2] Matsuoka next faced Kazuki Yamagiwa at Krush 87 on April 22, 2018. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–28 and 29–28.[3] Matsuoka extended his win-streak to three fights with a unanimous decision win over the two-weight Wu Lin Feng champion Tie Yinghua at Glory of Heroes 32: Huizhou on July 7, 2018.[4]

Matsuoka faced Masaaki Noiri at K-1 World GP 2018: K-1 Lightweight World's Strongest Tournament on December 8, 2018. He lost the fight by a first-round knockout.[5] After suffering his first loss under the Krush banner, Matsuoka was booked to face the former Krush welterweight champion Keita Makihira at Krush 100 on April 19, 2019.[6] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[7] Matsuoka failed to build on this success, as he was stopped by Kaisei Kondo in the first-round of their contest at K-1 World GP 2019: Japan vs World 5 vs 5 & Special Superfight in Osaka on August 24, 2019.[8][9]

Riki Matsuoka was scheduled to face Kona Kato at Krush 119 on November 27, 2020.[10] Matsuoka was disqualified from the bout at the 2:42 minute mark of the second round, after he threw an illegal knee inside the clinch.[11]

Matsuoka was scheduled to challenge Kona Kato for his Krush Welterweight title in the main event of Krush 124 on April 23, 2021. The bout was a rematch of their November 27, 2020, fight, which ended in a disqualification win for Kato, due to an illegal clinch knee.[12] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 30–27 and 29–28.[13]

Matsuoka faced Duangsompong Maki in the quarterfinals of the 2021 K-1 Welterweight Grand Prix, held at K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri on September 20, 2021.[14] He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout. Matsuoka faced Rukiya Anpo in the tournament semifinals. Anpo knocked Matsuoka down in the first round with an overhand right, and controlled the pace of the bout in the second round as well. He upped the pressure in the third round and knocked Matsuoka down twice, with a left hook and a left hook to the body, which once again earned him a technical knockout victory.[15]

Matsuoka was scheduled to make the first defense of his Krush Welterweight against Ayinta Ali at Krush 134 on February 20, 2022.[16] The fight was ruled a split decision draw following the first three rounds. Ali was awarded the split decision victory after an extra round was contested,[17] with two judges scoring the bout 10–9 for him, while the third judge awarded the same scorecard to Matsuoka.[18]

Matsuoka faced Kaito at Krush 147 on March 25, 2023, following a 13-month break from the sport.[19] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–29 and one scorecard of 30–28.[20]