Heavyweight debuts come with enormous pressure. Shamil Erdogan sees opportunities rather than risks against a dangerous Japanese knockout artist fighting in front of his home crowd.
Erdogan will face Ryugo Takeuchi in a heavyweight MMA fight AN 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 35-year-old Turkish powerhouse makes his division debut on a four-fight winning streak after dominating at middleweight.
Erdogan has built his reputation on devastating results since joining ONE Championship. He defeated Fan Rong in his promotional debut at ONE Friday Fights 22 in June 2023, then scored back-to-back wins over Myanmar legend Aung La N Sang to prove the elite credentials.
The Kremost Fight Club representative scored an explosive 41-second TKO victory over Gilberto Galvao at ONE Fight Night 29 last March. Furthermore, his perfect 12-0 record is a testament to complete dominance, with hardly any setbacks during his undefeated streak.
Moving up to Heavyweight unlocks new challenges and matchmaking opportunities. The Turkish star gained muscle mass through strength training while maintaining his usual preparation routine between camps in Thailand. Family motivation drives his championship aspirations across multiple divisions.
Takeuchi represents his first heavyweight test. The 22-year-old Japanese striker brings explosive power and an aggressive style that topped the regional scene before joining ONE’s elite squad.
“I like challenges. I have to prove to myself that I am legitimate at heavyweight among the best fighters,” he said.
“I’ve gained some muscle by pumping iron. Besides that, my training is going as usual. I’m spending my camp in Thailand – it’s my second home now.”
Shamil Erdogan plans to exploit his opponent’s recklessness
Shamil Erdogan studied Ryugo Takeuchi’s approach. However, the Turkish veteran believes his opponent’s aggressive forward pressure creates opportunities for counter-attacks.
Experiential benefits weigh heavily at the highest level. Erdogan has a superior combat IQ, developed through years of fighting elite opposition. Furthermore, his striking and wrestling skills offer multiple paths to victory.
Takeuchi’s strength lies in knockout power combined with youth and ambition. But rushing forward without calculated settings creates defensive vulnerabilities that veterans ruthlessly take advantage of.
Erdogan draws inspiration from Anatoly Malykhin’s historic three-division series. He defeated the Russian in freestyle wrestling years ago before Malykhin collected ONE titles at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.
“I know he is young and has ambitions. He is a good striker and the home crowd will push him hard. His strength is his striking KO power in hands, but I have a key to victory in this fight. I will show it there,” he said.
“He is too aggressive and rushes straight to the opponent. This is what I want to use against him. I am confident in my striking and wrestling. I have more experience and my fighting IQ is higher.”
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