Tessa de Kom defended her Rise title in strawweight fighting with class in Japan. In a tough rematch with Manazo Kobayashi, the Dutch kickboxing champion once again showed her absolute dominance.
Kobayashi, seeking revenge after her earlier defeat at Rise 184, began the fight full of determination, but that didn't exactly last long. For De Kom with her high fight IQ took over with pure technique. With accurate punches and tactically perfected combinations, she immediately put pressure on her Japanese opponent. In the second round, she impressed by virtually shutting Kobayashi's left eye, a moment that reminded fans of Rico Verhoeven's iconic eye damage in his duel with Jamal Ben Saddik.
Although Kobayashi bravely kept going and did not let her will be broken, De Kom proved to be classier in all areas. She dominated the ring with constant waves of attacks, alternating powerful lowkicks with sophisticated uppercuts and leaving her opponent no breathing room.
After five rounds of non-stop action, the result was settled, a unanimous decision in favor of Tessa de Kom. The judges recognized her technical superiority and fighter's mentality, reinforcing her status as a leading fighter in her weight class.
For Dutch kickboxing and Suriname, this is an important moment. In a sport that traditionally has male supremacy, De Kom proves time and again that she belongs to the absolute top worldwide.
