Ben Tynan Collides With Ryugo Takeuchi In Heavyweight MMA War At ONE Fight Night 40
Two behemoths are set to collide in the ring, as ONE Championship has confirmed a blockbuster clash between Canadian wrestling powerhouse Ben “Vanilla Thunder” Tynan and Japanese knockout artist Ryugo Takeuchi.
The pair will square off in a heavyweight MMA battle at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, February 13.
Tynan enters this crucial heavyweight showdown seeking redemption after tasting defeat for the first time in his professional career.
The 31-year-old Canadian made his professional debut in 2022 following an undefeated amateur run that included capturing a Canadian Junior National Title and competing at the ultra-tough NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. His charismatic persona and perfect finishing rate immediately captured the attention of ONE Championship matchmakers.
In his promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 16 in November 2023, he delivered a statement performance against South Korea’s “Mighty Warrior” Kang Ji Won. After two rounds of domination, Tynan secured the tap via arm-triangle choke in the third stanza, earning a US$50,000 performance bonus for his efforts.
The momentum continued at ONE Fight Night 21 in April 2024, where he demolished Australia’s Duke Didier via first-round TKO, though the bout was later declared a no contest.
His winning ways came to an abrupt halt at ONE Fight Night 34 last August when former ONE Interim Heavyweight MMA World Title challenger Kirill Grishenko handed him his first career setback. The Belarusian entered that match riding a two-fight winning streak and proved too much for the Canadian on that evening.
Now, Tynan aims to re-assert his dominance and prove he remains a legitimate threat in ONE Championship’s heavyweight MMA division.
Standing across from him will be Takeuchi, one of Japan’s most dangerous strikers.
Like Tynan, the 22-year-old Japanese knockout artist entered the promotion with a flawless slate. However, he had a challenging start to life in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
After absorbing a tough TKO loss to Paul “King of the North” Elliott in April 2025, Takeuchi exploded back onto the scene at ONE Fight Night 34 four months later. He demolished Kang in devastating fashion, needing just 98 seconds to secure the knockout victory and announce his arrival as a serious divisional threat.
However, his momentum proved fleeting when Turkish knockout machine Shamil Erdogan handed him a defeat in front of his home crowd at ONE 173 in Tokyo last November. The setback in Japan tested his resolve and hunger for heavyweight supremacy.
February’s heavyweight MMA showdown delivers a classic striker versus grappler matchup, as Takeuchi’s powerful stand-up arsenal faces its sternest test against Tynan’s elite wrestling pedigree in Bangkok.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE Fight Night 40 on Prime Video.
