News

Ian Tapia, one of Chile’s leading young Kyokushin talents and the 2025 KWU SENSHI World Champion, made a successful transition to mixed martial arts by winning his amateur MMA debut with an impressive second-round knockout. The victory came during the opening round of the Liga Nacional de MMA Amador R2BFIGHT, where he faced Brayan Tapia in the up to 185-pound adult division.

The Liga Nacional de MMA Amador R2BFIGHT consists of five stages, with one event scheduled each month through December. At the end of the season, the athletes with the best performances will compete for the championship title, making a strong start especially important.

Already recognized internationally for his achievements in Kyokushin Karate, Ian Tapia has continued to build an outstanding competitive résumé. Earlier this year, he captured the title at the 1st International KWU SENSHI Tournament in Tokyo, defeating two Japanese opponents—including a victory by ippon (knockout) in the final—and securing qualification for the KWU SENSHI World Cup in Bulgaria.

His successful MMA debut demonstrates the effectiveness of the technical foundation developed through Kyokushin and marks another important step in the career of one of Chile’s most promising combat sports athletes.

KWU SENSHI congratulates Ian Tapia on this outstanding victory and wishes him continued success throughout the R2BFIGHT season.