In a striking display of raw emotion, one professional fighting game competitor’s reaction to his defeat at Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves has gone viral across social media platforms, quickly gaining traction as an emerging meme.
For those frequenting game-related content online, it’s likely you’ve encountered the unforgettable image or video of Japanese player Kazuyuki ‘Kojikog’ Koji, whose mouth is agape in a dramatic scream while clutching his head, as fellow competitor Goichi “GO1” Kishida looks on with a combination of concern and disbelief. Notably, EVO2025’s official X account shared several stills from this moment.
A story in two parts. #Evo2025 pic.twitter.com/eo2pkg2Psg
— Evo (@Evo) August 3, 2025
KojiKOG, an accomplished esports athlete from Japan, is well-versed in various fighting games, including Street Fighter, The King of Fighters, and Guilty Gear. This past weekend at the Evolution Championship Series 2025 (EVO2025), he competed against fellow Japanese contender GO1 (Goichi) in the Winners’ Semi-Final for Fatal Fury: City of Wolves.
Despite the intense competition, GO1 emerged victorious, winning both rounds and ultimately the match. In the aftermath of the defeat, KojiKOG’s performance included a heartfelt reaction, clutching his head and emitting a prolonged scream reminiscent of Edvard Munch’s iconic painting, *The Scream*. This exaggerated response, combined with GO1’s baffled expression, led to many capturing meme-worthy moments.
I swear to God I’m not making fun of this dude but NO ONE HAS EVER LOOKED LIKE THEY SUFFERED LIKE THIS IN HUMAN HISTORY pic.twitter.com/JekIbl1F0a
— kayos (@kayos_o) August 3, 2025
Eventually, KojiKOG resumed his composure and was seen conversing with GO1 and organizing his belongings, revealing that his dramatic response was, in fact, part of his playful persona. However, shorter clips circulating on social media left some viewers concerned that he was genuinely distressed, particularly among those unfamiliar with his characteristic antics.
The End of EVOgelion #EVO2025 https://t.co/fZOHd1HmNF pic.twitter.com/Ht0vzmHXd3
— Keith Ace (@Keith_Ace_) August 3, 2025
Known for his comedic flair, KojiKOG often employs his signature screaming pose and humorous expressions during interviews (as seen at EWC2025). His memorable reaction this weekend likely served as a callback to their previous encounter at EVO15. In that matchup, he produced a similar screaming reaction, leaving commentators puzzled, as his personality was less familiar to the audience at that time.
10 years ago, GO1 went to EVO for the first time and won 4 side games—Melty Blood, Dengeki Bunko, UNI, and AQUAPAZZA, beating KojiKOG in the finals
Today, they meet again on the EVO main stage, recreating the ‘leg cutting incident’ meme https://t.co/p5whu1GNLB pic.twitter.com/rfPVn2HJXg
— HiFight(ハイファイト) (@HiFightTH) August 3, 2025
In reflection, renowned pro fighting game player Daigo Umehara remarked that KojiKOG’s reaction resembled a character from the *SAW* movies, evoking what many fans have referred to colloquially as the “leg cutting incident.”
While KojiKOG’s journey at EVO2025 concluded with a defeat to GO1, he still secured an impressive joint fifth place overall, achieving victory in 80% of his matches within Fatal Fury: City of Wolves.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who has previously held editorial roles and contributed to various publications focused on gaming and Japanese culture.
