Aygun Warns Confident Kryklia: ‘I’ll Show Him What Easy Work Is’

Anderson Silva and Murat Aygun fight at ONE: BIG BANG

Murat “The Butcher” Aygun is not fazed by the massive challenge ahead of him at ONE: HEAVY HITTERS.

In fact, the powerful Dutch-Turkish striker promises to walk down reigning ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion Roman Kryklia and claim the belt at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, 14 January. 

“He doesn’t make me nervous at all,” Aygun says. 

“What I need to do is apply my pressure like I normally do. Fans can expect me to go forward aggressively, punch a lot, evade a lot, and counterattack.”

The former ISKA Super Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion will bring an impressive 17-1 professional slate into this bout, along with a slew of prestigious titles from around the world. 

But even with those impressive accolades, he sees ONE Super Series gold as his biggest priority – one that keeps him pushing forward. 

“I fight to be champion. I was always the champion in my previous organizations, and ONE is the biggest,” Aygun says.

“That’s the only goal I have to achieve, and I’m going to become champion here. It will change a lot for me, financially and with the media. That’s what I find important.”

Anderson Silva and Murat Aygun fight at ONE: BIG BANG

The forward push is also literal for Aygun, who fearlesslessly wades into any opponent’s range in an effort to maximize his powerful punching. 

And while Kryklia has proven to be a hit-and-move master, “The Butcher” plans to keep charging ahead, get in close, and then make the champ pay.

“My fighting style is aggressive, counterattacking. Sometimes I’ll take one to give two. That has always been my style,” the 33-year-old says.

“I have fought against guys of 130, 140 kilograms, and even those guys couldn’t knock me down with their hard hits. Roman Kryklia can’t hurt me.”



Adding fuel to the fire, Kryklia recently stated that Aygun’s style is too predictable and shouldn’t cause many problems in this World Title affair.

Those words quickly got the attention of “The Butcher,” who does not appreciate being overlooked. Moreover, he believes his power will be more than a match for the confident World Champion’s famed cerebral approach. 

“If he thinks that it will be easy work, that is nonsense, of course. I’ll show him what easy work is when I go up against him in the Circle,” Aygun says 

“He’s a good kickboxer, he’s tall, and he’s already been the ONE World Champion [in two bouts], so he’s a good fighter, but that’s going to come to an end.

“The one that will win this fight will be the one who puts the most heart into it, and that will be me. I always give it my all.”

Anderson Silva and Murat Aygun fight at ONE: BIG BANG

Motivated by being the underdog, “The Butcher” is coming into this co-main event with a point to prove. 

The defending titleholder might be able to move around and pick his spots from time to time, but Aygun is certain he can catch him at some point. And when he does, he thinks it will be over. 

“Roman Kryklia, you think I’m easy prey? I’m going to show what easy is. You’re going down,” he adds.

“I don’t go for the knockout often, but in this match, I’m going to go for it. I’m going to win via KO.”

Read more: 5 Fast Facts About ONE World Title Challenger Murat Aygun

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