You didn’t even have to be there live at the Evo 2025 final showdown of Fatal Fury to catch Kazuyuki “KojiKOG” Koji’s big, dramatic onstage meltdown, really. It was all over the internet faster than you could say “South Town,” getting memed to oblivion. But, seriously, it wasn’t just about putting on a show for the cameras or anything.
So KojiKOG was up against Goichi “GO1” Kishida in what turned out to be an epic semifinal crash. GO1 took the whole tournament, by the way. KojiKOG had Billy; GO1 chose Kain. Both these characters are like, top-tier fighters ever since Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves dropped at the start of this year. But KojiKOG just couldn’t shake off GO1’s relentless combos. First round? Gone in a flash. Second round? KojiKOG almost turned the tables a couple of times, nearly taking a chunk out of GO1’s health, but no cigar.
Honestly, the match was, like, under five minutes, but KojiKOG’s reaction lasted almost a whole minute of pure disbelief and anguish. Meanwhile, GO1’s over there giggling and trying to chill out his rival. And viewers at home? Of course, they’re sharing every crumb of it online. It was more than just about that match. It was, I dunno, like, the agony we’ve all gone through when we give it our all, yet it’s never quite enough.
The End of EVOgelion #EVO2025 pic.twitter.com/Ht0vzmHXd3
— Keith Ace (@Keith_Ace_) August 3, 2025
Fans were quick to recall, this isn’t KojiKOG’s first rodeo when it comes to making outrageous faces for the camera. Nor his first face-off with GO1. They had clashed in Evo 2015 too, during some side gig for the 2D anime fighter Aquapazza. KojiKOG lost that time too, doing the whole “leg chopped off” bit. Fast forward, and now, with way more cash and bragging rights at stake, it was a whole different scene. GO1 walked away with an extra $10,000 after the last night’s conquest. Plus, he’s all set to compete for that whopping $2.5 million prize at the SNK World Championship in November. A prize backed by — wait for it — Saudi Arabia’s somewhat questionable fund.
youtubeに動画をアップしました。
10年ぶりに足を切断されてしまう小路KOG vs GO1 EVO2025 pic.twitter.com/DyPHT39YUu
— 小路ＫＯＧ (@kkkog) August 4, 2025
KojiKOG posted on X, joking (kinda?) about losing his leg again, ten years later. Sure, people in this scene get dramatic when they win, but KojiKOG is, maybe unknowingly, making it an art form to go all out when he loses too. Fans can’t wait for his glorious defeat at the next big event.
