Roman Kryklia may be the most feared striker on the planet. The ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion is a towering figure and now eyes two-sport gold. On Friday, December 8, the Ukrainian takes on Alex Roberts for the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE Fight Night 17.
It will not be his first move up in weight in ONE Championship. The 32-year-old proved his might by winning the ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix last year. With the gold up for grabs, Kryklia is happy to try and make his dream come true.
“To be a champion in two sports and in two divisions, I think it’s the dream of every fighter in the world,” Kryklia told ONE.
The Muay Thai contest will headline an all-Muay Thai event at ONE Fight Night 17. It will put heavyweights in four-ounce gloves, almost guaranteeing a swift end in the night’s ultimate contest. And Kryklia is not concerned about donning the smaller gloves or the smaller margin for error.
“I don’t care what people think, that I don’t have many fights in Muay Thai. I know this is a big part of my life and a big part of my training process, so we will see,” the Ukrainian expressed.
To say Kryklia has been dominant in ONE may be an understatement. He is a perfect 5-0 in the organization with four KO/TKO victories. He has shown to be the most dangerous kickboxer on the planet.
The 6’7” powerhouse is motivated to bring that power back to Muay Thai. Kryklia has shined in kickboxing, but this matchup will bring him back to his roots and initial goal in the sport. The only thing standing in his way now is Australia’s Roberts.
“I know this victory will be very special for me because it will be my first title in Muay Thai. And it’s very important for me to be the champion because I started in Muay Thai, and this was my dream at the beginning of my career,” Kryklia explained.
Against the debuting Aussie, Kryklia is not taking the bout lightly. Roberts brings his own credentials into the contest and has the attention of the Ukrainian. But, in the end, he thinks his speed will be the difference in the fight.
“I don’t like to wait in the ring. I like to be very aggressive, but I am always ready for all five rounds. So nobody knows how my fight will finish, even me,” Kryklia said.
ONE Fight Night 17 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, December 8. The action begins at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.
