Baki the Grappler

Maximum Tournament Saga

The plot of this saga tells the story of a great martial arts tournament, which is organized by Mitsunari Tokugawa in the Underground Arena. At the very beginning, Tokugawa meets with various people from the upper classes and tells them to bring the strongest fighters from around the world. He also explains that the prize for the winner will be a great Pankration belt.

Where to Watch Maximum Tournament Saga

24 Episodes

The Opening
E1
The OpeningMitsunari Tokugawa announces his plans for a world martial arts tournament, and fighters from around the world gather for it. In the first fight of round one in the A-Block, Baki Hanma fights Artemis Regan, a professional wrestler; in the second fight of round one in the A-Block, Vale Tudo master Zulu fights Muay Thai master Dentoranee Jitpika.
Reverse
E2
ReverseIn the third A-Block match of round one, heavyweight kickboxing champion Rob Robinson takes on the professional wrestler Anton Igari; in the fourth A-Block match of round one, Motobe Izo fights the grand sumo Kinryuzan; in the first B-Block match of round one, the Sambo master Sergei Taktaroff fights Retsu Kaio, a master of Chinese Kenpo; in the second B-Block match of round one, Kato fights the son of the Yasha Ape.
Darkness from Light
E3
Darkness from LightBaki saves the Yasha Ape's son from Katsumi; in the third B-Block match of round one, Hanayama fights the Japanese Kenpo master Inagi Bunnoshin; in the fourth B-Block match of round one, Roland Gustaf, a catch-as-catch-can wrestler, fights Orochi Katsumi.
The King Returns
E4
The King ReturnsYujiro arrives and enters his protégé Amanai Yu in the tournament; in the first C-Block match of round one, heavyweight boxing world champion Ian McGregor fights Taekwondo master Li Moko; in the second C-Block match of round one, biker gang leader Shiba Chiharu fights judo master Hatanaka Kohei; in the third C-Block match of round one, Shorinji Kenpo master Misaki Kengo fights pro wrestler Mike Queen.
User
E5
UserBrazilian Jiu-jitsu master Sergio Silva faces pit-fighter Jack Hammer in the fourth C-Block match of round one; Yujiro tries to fight Hammer, but Baki intervenes; shoot wrestler Yamamoto Minoru faces Amanai Yu in the first D-Block match of round one.
The Tigerslayer Returns
E6
The Tigerslayer ReturnsRichard Filth, a bouncer, faces Orochi Doppo in the second D-Block match of round one; Roger Harlon, an amateur wrestler, faces the jujutsu master Shibukawa Goki in the third D-Block match of round one; Shinogi Kureha faces Shinogi Kousho in the fourth D-Block match of round one.
Fighting the Past
E7
Fighting the PastThe fourth D-Block match of round one continues as Shinogi Kureha and Shinogi Kousho continue to fight; Baki faces Zulu in the first A-Block match of round two.
Eras End
E8
Eras EndIn the second A-Block match of round two, Igari faces Kinryuzan; in the first B-Block match of round two, Retsu Kaio faces Mount Toba.
Measure of a Man
E9
Measure of a ManIn the second B-Block match of round two, Hanayama faces Orochi Katsumi.
Robe of Death
E10
Robe of DeathIn the first C-Block match of round two, Shiba Chiharu faces Ian McGregor.
The Chained Patriot
E11
The Chained PatriotAndreanof Garland, the last reserver, is introduced when it is deemed that Shiba is in no condition to fight in the next round; in the second C-Block match of round two, Jack Hammer faces Misaki Kengo.
Survivor
E12
SurvivorIn the first D-Block match of round two, Doppo faces Amanai Yu; Baki takes Kozue to the site of his mother's death.
Misdirection
E13
MisdirectionYujiro fights against all of the tournament losers; in the second D-Block match of round two, Shibukawa Goki faces Shinogi Kousho.
Deception
E14
DeceptionIgari begs Baki to let him win, and they fight in the first match of the quarter-finals.
The Ace and the Serpent
E15
The Ace and the SerpentIn the second fight of the quarter-finals, Katsumi faces Retsu Kaio; Andreanof Garland fights an anaconda to make things fair, since he hasn't fought in the tournament yet, and then he faces Jack Hammer in the third fight of the quarter-finals.
How to Build a Better Monster
E16
How to Build a Better MonsterAndreanof Garland and Jack Hammer continue to fight in the third match of the quarter-finals. Also, Hammer's training history is revealed.
Doppo vs Shibukawa
E17
Doppo vs ShibukawaShibukawa Goki faces Doppo in the fourth match of the quarter-finals.
Warriors Legacy
E18
Warriors LegacyBaki fights Retsu Kaio in the first match of the semi-finals.
Monster
E19
MonsterIn the second match of the semi-finals, Shibukawa Goki faces Jack Hammer.
The Finals
E20
The FinalsBaki and Jack Hammer think about the training and hardships they've endured to reach their current level of ability.
Blood Battle
E21
Blood BattleBaki faces Jack Hammer in the final match of the tournament. Also, in flashback Yujiro meets Jack's mother in Vietnam.
Soldiers Misfortune
E22
Soldiers MisfortuneBaki and Jack Hammer continue to fight in the final match. In flashback to Vietnam, Yujiro breaks into an American base and terrorizes the soldiers; later, Jack is born.
Final Strike
E23
Final StrikeBaki and Jack Hammer continue to fight in the finals as Jack's body breaks down.
Rencounter
E24
RencounterIn flashback, the United States government sends its special forces to South America to kill a young Yujiro.