For the first time since its inception, ONE Championship is set to feature an all-Muay Thai card, headlined by a monumental clash starring ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion Roman Kryklia. 

Broadcasting live in U.S. primetime on Friday, December 8, the Ukrainian megastar moves up a weight class and puts on smaller gloves when he steps into the ring with WBC Heavyweight Muay Thai World Champion Alex Roberts for the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Title in the main event of ONE Fight Night 17: Kryklia vs Roberts. 

Roman Kryklia isn’t going to hold back

The historic card takes place inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Kryklia has been nothing short of amazing since joining the world’s largest martial arts organization. Debuting at ONE: AGE OF DRAGONS in November 2019.

He knocked out longtime rival Tarik Khbabez to capture the inaugural belt he holds now. After defending his prestigious strap twice, he joined the ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, knocking out Guto Inocente in the first round of their semi-final clash at ONE 161 in September 2022.

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Two months later, he knocked out another former rival in Iraj Azizpour in the tournament final at ONE 163. Now he sets his sights on a world title in a second sport one month after Jonathan Haggerty joined rare company by claiming both World Titles in the promotion’s striking divisions. 

The opportunity will not be handed to him on a silver platter though, as the 32-year-old will square off with a highly motivated and fully capable Roberts. The fighter is a challenge for just about anyone in the division. So how will the champion work his way out of this one?

‘The Viking’ will step up to the challenge

Hailing from Perth, Australia, “The Viking” is fresh off winning the WBC Heavyweight Muay Thai World Title at the expense of Lyndon Knowles – one of Haggerty’s cornermen. While it was certainly an impressive feat, winning a World Title in his ONE debut could push his stardom to another level. 

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The card will be the final ONE event on U.S. primetime, and it’s fitting that it will be an all-Muay Thai card. Recently, ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong claimed that the organization is home to the best strikers on the planet, and an all-striking card is a perfect way to showcase this fact. 

Also Read: Jarred Brooks Says ONE Fight Night 16 Main Event Is a Perfect Example of Why the Promotion Is Superior to UFC, Offers Prediction on Battle