EuroFC 02: Japanese Legend Yuki Kondo versus Petr Knize

Legends collide on February 11th in Prague, Czech Republic – Czech pioneer Petr Knize(23-1) clashes with Japanese legend Yuki Kondo(59-32-9) in EuroFC 02’s co-main event. Kondo shows a record of 59 wins in his careers, including victories over Frank Shamrock, Guy Mezger, Semmy Schilt, Pete Williams, ‘Minowaman’, and Masakatsu Funaki. Moreover the Japanese MMA legend challenged Tito Ortiz for the UFC light heavyweight title and competed against Wanderlei Silva and Dan Henderson in Pride. Local hero Petr Knize will be 41-year-old Kondo’s 101st opponent to face in the octagon as a professional and also the Japanese’s very first competition in Europe. In 100 fights Kondo has only been stopped 13 times, only four of which have come in the past 10 years and 34 fights. In recent years the old-school legend has still been competing regularly in Japan in the iconic Pancrase promotion – the promotion he debuted in, back in 1996. Between 2014 and 2016, Kondo posted a 4-4 record registering first round stoppage wins over Kenji Kawaguchi, Eiji Ishikawa and the until then undefeated Toshikazu Suzuki. However, Petr Knize(23-1) is more than a worthy opponent. The 39-year-old Czech fighter started his career, just like Kondo, in the nineties and was defeated only once, by UFC veteran Karlos Vemola. Knize is looking forward to a tough three round war in front of a cheering home crowd: “Yuki Kondo is a very complex and skilled fighter. His balance is incredible as is his record of the names of fighters who he has fought against. I have great respect for him. I’m working hard and I expect to fight three rounds.”