‘Beat Him To A Pulp’ – Ryugo Takeuchi Plans to Unleash Fury On Ben Tynan At ONE Fight Night 40
The sting of defeat can either break a fighter’s spirit or forge it into something more dangerous, and for Ryugo Takeuchi, the heart-wrenching ending at ONE 173 has created a powder keg waiting to detonate.
The 22-year-old Japanese knockout artist will look to unleash months of pent-up frustration when he faces Ben “Vanilla Thunder” Tynan in a heavyweight MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 40 on February 13 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
After suffering a devastating first-round TKO loss to Shamil Erdogan in November, Takeuchi has been carrying the weight of that defeat, and he plans to channel every ounce of that emotion into his performance against the Canadian.
Takeuchi said:
“After ONE 173 where I lost in that manner, I’ve had a lot of frustration building up inside me, dissatisfaction with how things went, all of that combined. I have so much frustration accumulated, and I’m planning to make this the fight where I explode with all of it.”
That explosion could come early against Tynan, a wrestler who Takeuchi believes is tailor-made for the kind of statement-making finish he desperately needs.
The Japanese star has studied Tynan’s approach extensively, acknowledging the “Vanilla Thunder’s” wrestling credentials while identifying specific tactical adjustments he’ll need to make to keep the fight standing.
He said:
“He’s pretty good at tackles, single-leg takedowns, so I’m watching out for that. Also, he’s quite heavier than me — more than 10 kilos heavier — so he’s a big fighter. When we clinch up, I’m being conscious not to get into a strength battle. I’ve been practicing transitions and staying aware of that.”
Rather than viewing the size and wrestling advantage with trepidation, Takeuchi has identified what he sees as fatal flaws in both Tynan’s technical game and his mental fortitude.
The scouting report reveals a fighter who actively avoids the kind of chaotic exchanges that define Takeuchi’s fighting style, and the Japanese athlete believes this reluctance betrays a deeper weakness.
Takeuchi said:
“Watching his fights, he’s a fighter who doesn’t get into striking exchanges at all. So his weakness is striking, and if I had to say more, I think he might be mentally weak.”
Takeuchi Promises To Keep Fight Standing Against Tynan
The classic grappler-versus-striker matchup often favors the wrestler who can impose their game plan, but Ryugo Takeuchi has no intention of playing by conventional rules when he enters the ring.
While acknowledging that Ben Tynan will likely attempt takedowns throughout the fight, the Japanese knockout artist has made a bold declaration about how he’ll respond if the fight hits the canvas.
Rather than engaging in the grinding, energy-sapping ground battle that derailed him against Erdogan, Takeuchi plans to scramble back to his feet immediately and force Tynan into the kind of striking exchange where he holds every advantage.
He said:
“I don’t hate the ground game. I can do it. I’m not that great at it, but I can do it, so I don’t hate it. But I want to excite the crowd. How should I put it? I want to win in an impactful way, so if I get taken down, I won’t engage in ground fighting. I’ll immediately stand back up and beat him to a pulp.”
The confidence radiating from Takeuchi stems from his absolute belief in his striking superiority. At just 22 years old, he’s already compiled a perfect 100 percent finishing rate across five professional victories, with four of those knockouts coming in the first round.
In fact, his average fight time is just 3 minutes and 26 seconds, a testament to the destructive power he carries in his hands.
He continued:
“When it becomes a striking scramble, when it turns into a brawl, there’s absolutely no way I’ll lose. I don’t feel like I’ll lose any standup battle at all.”
Takeuchi envisions a scenario where the fight devolves into pure chaos, the kind of firefight that separates true finishers from pretenders.
In those moments when technique gives way to heart and will, when both men are throwing leather with bad intentions, the Japanese standout believes Tynan will crumble under the pressure and intensity.
Takeuchi concluded:
“If it becomes an intense battle, it will definitely end in the first round.”
