Samet Agdeve promised to write history, and the 21-year-old Turkish phenom delivered exactly that with a stunning unanimous decision victory over Roman Kryklia at ONE Fight Night 37 on 8 November.
The undefeated striker became the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion in his promotional debut, ending Kryklia's seven-year unbeaten run and snapping the Ukrainian's 15-fight winning streak in the process.
Agdeve's performance against the towering two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion showcased the mentality that has carried him to an unblemished 18-0 record with 12 knockouts.
"I'm a fearless fighter. Against Roman, I gotta be fearless. I know he's a powerful fighter. But every time he tried to use his jab, I responded with my head, as you saw in the fight, I kept my guard low," Agdeve explained.
The Turkish sensation's bold approach wasn't just talk.
He systematically dismantled the 6-foot-7 Kryklia through strategic brilliance, targeting the Ukrainian's legs with brutal calf kicks in the early rounds.
Nicknamed "The King," Agdeve had publicly declared his championship intentions before stepping into the ring, and he savoured the moment when his prediction became reality.
"I knew it was going to happen. I shared on social media that I'm coming for the World Championship. Now I'm here. I'm 21 years old, I've got the belt, I'm the champion," he stated.
The unanimous decision victory validated everything Agdeve believed about himself heading into the biggest fight of his young career.
"I was very happy with the judges' results. Like I said before the fight, I was going to write history, and I did it. Now I have the belt, and whoever wants to challenge me, they're welcome," the new champion said.
Behind the confidence and fearless fighting style lies a journey filled with adversity. Agdeve became emotional when reflecting on the path that led him to championship glory.
"From my childhood, I had so many difficult times. Before the fight, before entering the ring, I was crying. I got very emotional," he revealed.
Leave a comment
Please login to leave a comment.