Roman Kryklia has accumulated quite the collection of belts since signing for ONE Championship. He won another this morning, stopping Alex Roberts in the second round to become the promotion’s first ever heavyweight Muay Thai champion.
Kryklia was already the reigning ONE Championship light heavyweight and heavyweight kickboxing champion. It took the Ukrainian just 30 seconds to floor Roberts with a left hook, straight right combo.
Of the previous seven fights on the card at ONE Fight Night 17 only one had gone the distance. The main event followed a similar pattern with Kryklia’s reach causing problems for Roberts.
TWO-SPORT WORLD CHAMPION 👑👑 Kickboxing king Roman Kryklia KOs Alex Roberts to win the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Title!#ONEFightNight17
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch the full ONE Fight Night 17 event replay 👉 https://t.co/duKj2fOmoS pic.twitter.com/AujpzeTdMQ— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) December 9, 2023
Right elbow
In the dying seconds of the round Roberts caught Kryklia with a right elbow at close quarters. It wobbled the Ukrainian but the bell sounded before the Australian could capitalize.
In the second round both men came out swinging. It was Kryklia who enjoyed success as another left hook dropped Roberts hard and this time the Australian would not be getting up.
Roberts landed in the fetal position and there as no question of the fight being allowed to continue. It was Kryklia’s 14th win in a row and his seventh for ONE Championship with the Ukrainian earning a $50,000 USD bonus for his efforts.
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Best of the rest
In the co-main event Jo Nattawut and Luke Lessei went the distance. The Thai featherweight won by decision in what would turn out to be the only fight on the card that required the judge’s intervention.
Among the bonus winners was Jacob Smith. He finished Walter Goncalves with a knee late in the second round of their flyweight fight.
Dmitry Menshikov also walked away with $50,000 USD. The Russian knocked out Mouhcine Chafi in the opening round of their lightweight fight.
ONE Fight Night 17, Bangkok, December 9th
Muay Thai: Roman Kryklia def. Alex Roberts via KO (Punch) at 0:25 of R2
Muay Thai: Jo Nattawut def. Luke Lessei via Decision (Unanimous)
Muay Thai: Mohamed Younes Rabah def. Saemapetch Fairtex via KO (Punches) at 2:29 of R1
Muay Thai: Dmitry Menshikov def. Mouhcine Chafi via KO (Punches) at 1:59 of R1
Muay Thai: Jacob Smith def. Walter Goncalves via KO (Knee) at 2:54 of R1
Muay Thai: Johan Ghazali def. Edgar Tabares via KO (Punches) at 0:36 of R1
Muay Thai: Denis Purić def. Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất via KO (Punch) at 1:35 of R2
Muay Thai: Ellis Badr Barboza def. Thongpoon PKSaenchaigym via KO (Punch) at 2:21 of R3
