Ukrainian striking legend Roman Kryklia attributes his unblemished ONE Championship record to technical mastery rather than raw power as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.
The two-sport ONE World Champion will attempt to make history when he battles undefeated Turkish prospect Samet Agdeve for the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship at ONE Fight Night 37 on November 8 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Kryklia has remained untouchable through seven promotional appearances, finishing six opponents along the way. The 6-foot-7 striker credits defensive excellence for his dominance rather than his widely feared finishing ability.
"I have a scary knockout power. But when I go in the ring, I don't look for a knockout. It comes naturally. I have been untouchable. That's because of my technical skills. I do a lot of exercises for defense during my training sessions," Kryklia said.
The 33-year-old has assembled an impressive 51-7 career record since beginning martial arts training at 6 years old in Ukraine. Now based in Dubai, he has conquered two weight divisions by claiming ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship in November 2019 and ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Title in December 2023.
A victory over Agdeve would cement his legacy as a triple champion across multiple combat sports disciplines.
Kryklia maintains a philosophical approach to the five-round main event showdown,
refusing to predict outcomes while acknowledging his complete preparation.
"When I do something, my goal is to make it as good as I can. I think a knockout is the best way to show it. I don't like to predict my future fights. And of course, I'm ready to make five rounds. But we'll see," he explained.
The Ukrainian also detailed his mental approach to competition, drawing clear boundaries between his personality outside and inside the Circle.
"My style is to separate my casual life and my life in the ring. I like to be calm and kind in life, but totally different inside the ring," Kryklia revealed.
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