The Turkish fighter beat the odds to become heavyweight world champion.
In the main event, undefeated Turkish standout Samet Agdeve delivered a career-defining performance, defeating two-sport, two-division champion Roman Kryklia by unanimous decision to claim the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship.
Fresh off his SENSHI Grand Prix victory earlier this year, the 21-year-old continues his rapid rise through the heavyweight ranks.
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The opening round saw Kryklia dictate the range with powerful high kicks and long combinations, while Agdeve patiently absorbed the pressure. As the fight progressed, the Turkish fighter began finding his rhythm, countering effectively and targeting Kryklia’s body and legs.
Momentum shifted in the third round when Agdeve’s relentless calf kicks began to take effect, visibly slowing the towering Ukrainian. From there, “The King” pressed forward with steady volume and sharp boxing, matching Kryklia’s power and controlling the exchanges in close range.
Both fighters traded heavy strikes in the championship rounds, but Agdeve’s output and composure proved decisive. After five hard-fought rounds, the judges awarded him the unanimous decision victory, crowning him the promotion’s first-ever heavyweight kickboxing champion.
It marks a major milestone for the young Agdeve. While an immediate rematch seems like the obvious next step, ONE Championship would be better served by continuing to build its heavyweight division. With only today’s two competitors and Lyndon Knowles under contract, the options remain limited.
