Oh man, you didn’t have to be glued to Evo 2025 to catch the spectacle of Kazuyuki “KojiKOG” Koji practically tangoing with agony on stage. It was a scene—like, really—a scene that the internet devoured like it was the last slice of pizza at a gamer’s party. Everybody and their cat have memed it to oblivion.
Now, about that loss, it wasn’t just a show. KojiKOG faced a brutal smackdown from Goichi “GO1” Kishida. Kishida, the tournament champ, no less. They both picked top-tier fighters—KojiKOG with Billy and GO1 handling Kain like a seasoned pro. The match kicks off and bam, KojiKOG’s back against the wall in no time. He lost the first round and tried to claw back in the second, came close… twice. But y’know, just couldn’t seal the deal.
This whole face-off? Barely hit the five-minute mark. But KojiKOG’s dramatic spasms afterward? I swear, nearly 60 seconds of pure theatrics. Meanwhile, GO1’s reaction was all giggles and shrugs, trying to play the nice guy and comfort KojiKOG, as the internet erupted, capturing and sharing the drama faster than a cat meme goes viral. Seriously, it was like seeing our own inner drama played out—when we pour our hearts out and still… zip.
The tweets buzzed by, a blend of reactions, turning the whole episode into a virtual hall of mirrors where everyone finds their own reflection. Just saying.
Fans were quick to point out this wasn’t KojiKOG’s first rodeo with GO1. They tangled way back in an Evo 2015 side gig of an anime fighter called Aquapazza. (Who even remembers those obscure games, right?). KojiKOG lost there too—put on a whole leg-cut-off act. But, this time, stakes were sky-high—a hefty chunk of cash and bragging rights. GO1 walked away with an extra 10K and a lead in the $2.5 mil Fatal Fury jackpot set for November. Sponsored by—you guessed it—Saudi Arabia’s somewhat infamous, ahem, resources.
“KojiKOG vs GO1 EVO2025,” said KojiKOG himself in a post, tongue firmly in cheek. He’s turning loss theatrics into high art, folks. Can’t wait until his next big tumble, can you?
