5 Fast Facts About ONE World Title Challenger Murat Aygun
The year 2020 has been a colossal period for big-name signings in ONE Super Series, and Murat “The Butcher” Aygun is one of the biggest.
The ISKA Super Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion is known for his physical size and fearsome striking, and he will dive straight into the ONE World Title picture when he faces off against light heavyweight king Roman Kryklia at ONE: BIG BANG this Friday, 4 December.
Aygun is an aggressive, hard-headed slugger who will push the reigning ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion to his limits at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Before the biggest fight of his career, here are five interesting facts about the Dutch-Turkish striker.
#1 He Earned His Nickname On The Job
Aygun did not just become known as the “The Butcher” due to his marauding style and his propensity to take opponents apart.
The 32-year-old actually worked as a butcher in his younger days. He also held jobs at a laundromat and delivered pizzas.
#2 He Learned From A K-1 Legend
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTjZ72BF7yP/
When Aygun made the move to professional kickboxing, he began training under the legendary Peter “The Dutch Lumberjack” Aerts to accelerate his career development.
Aerts runs his gym in “The Butcher’s” hometown of Enschede, and the three-time K-1 World Grand Prix Champion was the perfect role model to guide Aygun through his early days in the heavyweight division.
- 4 Epic Light Heavyweight Kickboxing Fights That Defined The Division
- Roman Kryklia’s Journey From A Small Town To The Global Stage
- Grigorian, Matsushima, Tonon, More Added To ONE: BIG BANG
#3 He Has Elite Training Partners
Aygun now trains under Said El Badaoui at SB Gym in Utrecht, Netherlands — and he’s surrounded by elite athletes.
ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Ilias “Tweety” Ennahachi is one of his stablemates, as is #5-ranked featherweight kickboxing star Tayfun “Turbine” Ozcan.
Plus, “The Butcher” can also be found sparring regularly with kickboxing legend and fellow Dutch-Turkish athlete Gokhan Saki.
#4 He’s Been Flawless In Title Bouts
At 16-1, “The Butcher” can’t match the experience of the 45-7 Kryklia, but he’s still raced up the ranks at a phenomenal pace.
Aygun won the ISKA Super Heavyweight Kickboxing World Title after just seven fights, and he’s captured four other belts since then, with a sensational 5-0 record in championship contests.
#5 He Has An Unlikely Hobby
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZWbZQ8FynC/
It’s clear that Aygun is a phenomenal athlete who will push Kryklia in Singapore, but what is he like outside of competition?
One of his hobbies might surprise you — he’s an avid table tennis player, which could explain his lightning-fast hand speed and reaction time.
Read more: Fearless Aygun Vows To Pressure Kryklia In World Title Challenge
