Before he ever set foot inside the ring, the world had already written Samet Agdeve off. That mistake cost Roman Kryklia his unbeaten ONE record.
Agdeve became the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion last November when he outlasted Kryklia over five rounds at ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok. He now defends that title against the Ukrainian veteran in the co-main event of The Inner Circle on Friday, June 19, streaming live at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Agdeve used relentless calf kicks and sharp boxing combinations to disrupt the 6-foot-7 former champion’s rhythm throughout their first meeting. The damage to Kryklia’s lead leg forced him to switch stances as the bout progressed. Agdeve controlled the pace from start to finish and earned a unanimous decision in the biggest win of his career.
The 22-year-old Turkish fighter is unmoved by the underdog narrative that surrounded him going into that contest. He believes his victory was earned long before the opening bell.
“Beating Roman was not a surprise. It was the result of years of hard work, sacrifice, and belief in myself. People may have been surprised by the outcome, but I wasn’t. I knew what I was capable of, and that victory was simply the reward for all the effort I had put in throughout my career,” he said.
“For a long time, people saw me as the bait. But when the opportunity came, they became the prey. That’s the story of my journey and that’s what happened against Roman Kryklia.”
Samet Agdeve shuts out the noise for his first defence
Samet Agdeve enters this rematch as the reigning champion, and Kryklia returns with significant motivation. The Ukrainian is a three-time ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion, a two-time ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Champion, and a ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix winner. His loss to Agdeve last November stands as the only defeat of his ONE career.
Some believe five rounds of experience against Agdeve gives Kryklia a real advantage in the rematch. Agdeve has no interest in what the challenger may have taken from their first fight and keeps his focus entirely on his own preparation.
“That doesn’t really concern me. We’ll find out what he has learned when the bell rings,” he said.
“Until then, it’s all speculation. My focus is on myself, my preparation, and being ready for whatever he brings into the ring.”
