Yusuke Fujimoto

The following year saw a change in Fujimoto’s fortune. On June 3, he bested ssireum wrestler Dong-wook Kim, karateka Tsuyoshi Nakasako, and Olympic judoka Kim Min-soo to win the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Seoul – becoming the first Japanese K-1 competitor to win an overseas tournament. His victory brought him to the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Osaka Opening Round, where he fought the legendary Ernesto Hoost to a third round KO loss. In March 2007, he entered a tournament to determine the first K-1 Heavyweight Champion and met Musashi in the semifinals at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Yokohama. In one of the most significant wins of his career, Fujimoto exercised great timing and reach over the two-time WGP runner-up, eventually securing a TKO with a kick to the head. He subsequently met Badr Hari at the finals and suffered a KO loss within the first minute of the opening round.

Fujimoto lost his only 2008 bout to karate champion Ewerton Teixeira after breaking his right arm for a second time. He was out of action for over a year, and declared on his personal blog to be considering withdrawal from kickboxing. These considerations proved concrete, as Fujimoto engaged in his retirement match on November 3, 2009 – defeating Junpei Hamada by unanimous decision at the Japan-Korea International Martial Arts Competition. Over a year later, he fought an additional retirement bout for K-1 so as to bid farewell to the company responsible for his career. On December 10 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final, Fujimoto competed against Hesdy Gerges. Over 8 inches (22 cm) shorter than his opponent and considerably less muscular than his norm, he was knocked down three times in the first round and lost via TKO. After the bout, a retirement ceremony commenced wherein Fujimoto received flowers from his family and thanked his authorities and fans. He retired with a record of 27 wins, 17 losses, and 1 no contest.

Later that year, Fujimoto won the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong – his second regional tournament. It was a controversial event, with Fujimoto losing his semifinal match to Taiei Kin but nevertheless advancing due to Kin suffering a facial injury. Fujimoto entered his finals match to conspicuous silence from the crowd, but eventually elicited cheers upon defeating sanshou champion Wang Qiang. Fujimoto subsequently reached the WGP Final Elimination for a second time but forfeited to opponent Junichi Sawayashiki following multiple knockdowns.

Fujimoto claims that his signature look of a bald head and brows is the result of natural causes, stating he lost his hair because of stress involved in his martial arts training. His eyebrows began growing back in July 2005.

At K-1 Burning 2004, Fujimoto broke his right arm during a match with Montanha Silva. The injury kept him out of competition for 14 months. He returned to fight Carter Williams at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas, but was injured again when Williams broke his nose, ending the match via no contest. Fujimoto later made it to the finals of the K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hawaii but was knocked out by Gary Goodridge.

Fujimoto made his professional kickboxing debut at K-1 Rising 2000 on January 25, 2000 and scored a second round TKO victory over Masanobu Yamanaka. He briefly stepped down to amateur status the same year, winning the Monster Challenge 2000 K-2 Tournament via decision over the returning Yamanaka. This was the only championship Fujimoto would win for some time: he entered four regional tournaments within the following three years but was regularly defeated, advancing no further than the last match of the K-1 Survival 2003 Japan Grand Prix Final.

Yusuke Fujimoto (Japanese: 藤本祐介 [ɸɯʑiꜜmoto juꜜːsɯ̥ke] ; born July 22, 1975) is a Japanese former heavyweight kickboxer who competed in K-1 and was the K-1 World GP 2007 in Hong Kong tournament champion. He is nicknamed "Bun Bun Maru" because of his tendency to throw big, swinging punches, and is distinguishable by his bald head and lack of eyebrows. He holds notable victories over Musashi, Dewey Cooper, and Francois Botha.