Championship belts fuel ambition rather than satiate hunger. Roman Kryklia stands on the brink of striking immortality with two ONE World Titles already draped over his shoulders, but all he sees is the one missing piece.
The Ukrainian giant will fight undefeated Turkish sensation Samet Agdeve for the first ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship on ONE Fight Night 37 on Prime Video on Friday, November 7, live from Bangkok, Thailand. Kryklia is aiming for his third ONE world title to cement his legacy as one of the art world’s all-time greats. The 6-foot-2 powerhouse already has both the ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing and ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Championships to his name.
His dominance is evident in numbers that intimidate opponents before the opening bell. Kryklia has remained flawless in ONE Championship through seven straight victories, including six devastating finishes. That perfection extends to a 15-fight winning streak dating back to 2018 that shows no signs of slowing down.
His most recent defeat came last April at ONE Fight Night 30 against former WBC World Champion Lyndon Knowles. Kryklia defeated the Englishman three times in the opening round. The 34-year-old walked away without a scratch and immediately called for a new fight.
Most warriors would rest on such achievements. But Kryklia only sees his two ONE world titles as stepping stones to something bigger. The dual-sport champion refuses to be satisfied with what’s in his trophy case and sees every achievement as a step up on an endless climb.
“When you become champion, you feel more and more pressure over time. People see me as the most dominant heavyweight striker in the world. It’s a lot of pressure, but I don’t care because of my discipline,” he said.
“I want people to remember me in the future as the most technical heavyweight striker in the world.”
Roman Kryklia explains the relentless pursuit of greatness
Roman Kryklia refuses to see himself as the greatest heavyweight striker, despite what his record suggests. The Ukrainian superpower believes that playing into its own hype would mark the beginning of its decline.
His approach focuses on discipline over motivation. While other athletes struggle to maintain the drive after reaching the top, Kryklia treats every training session as his first. The work never stops in empty gyms where no one is watching. Countless hours of practicing defensive sequences and fixing some mistakes fuel his continued dominance.
Glory Under Bright Light only tells part of its story. The knockouts and impeccable professional record grab the headlines, but the relentless pursuit of perfection defines who he really is. Kryklia understands that perfection does not exist in martial arts, which explains why he constantly strives for it.
His journey leads to Bangkok on November 7, where he will face undefeated challenger Samet Agdeve. Victory over the Turkish sensation would complete his quest for striking immortality by adding a third ONE World Championship to his collection. The 34-year-old doesn’t simply view this as another belt around his waist.
“I never have problems with motivation. Discipline is my biggest motivation. I just want to show what I can do,” Kryklia said.
“I want to make history. I want to bring people’s attention back to heavyweight. That’s why I’m very hungry. And I’m moving forward.”
“When they put the new strap on my shoulder, it just means that [I’ve taken] One more step on the way to the top of the striking world, and I think this is the place I want to be.”
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