‘He Is Too Aggressive’ – Shamil Erdogan Says Ryugo Takeuchi’s Style Plays Right Into His Strengths
Turkish powerhouse Shamil Erdogan is moving up to heavyweight and he wants to make a statement by taking out a dangerous knockout artist in Ryugo Takeuchi.
The 35-year-old Kremost Fight Club representative will face the Japanese star in a three-round heavyweight MMA contest at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri, live on Sunday, November 16 from Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
Coming off an explosive 41-second TKO victory over Brazilian veteran Gilberto Galvão at ONE Fight Night 29 this past March, Erdogan will now test his mettle at a higher weight class.
Takeuchi will serve as his first dance partner, and with greater stakes, the veteran out of Dagestan wants to announce his arrival in one of ONE Championship’s toughest divisions.
He said:
“I love challenges. I need to prove to myself that I am legit in heavyweight among the best fighters.”
Erdogan has spent the past year building his reputation as one of the most dangerous finishers in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
He defeated tough Chinese middleweight “King Kong Warrior” Fan Rong in his promotional debut at ONE Friday Fights 22 in June 2023. He then scored back-to-back stoppage wins over Myanmar legend “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang to prove he belonged among the elite.
Erdogan is currently riding an impressive four-fight winning streak, pushing his overall record to a perfect 12-0, and it appears he has hardly even broken a sweat.
Now, the 35-year-old is ready to conquer the next big thing when he moves up to the heaviest weight class, opening up a plethora of enticing matchups against the best of the best in ONE. The Turkish star says he expects to unlock the most complete version of himself with the move.
He explained:
“I gained some muscles with pumping iron. Besides it, my training goes as usual. I am spending my camp in Thailand – it is my second home now. Training in Bangtao and from time to time coming to Teiwaz Striking.
“I am inspired by gaining best life for my family. To change their life is a very precious goal for me.”
Standing across from him in Tokyo is Takeuchi — a young and explosive striker, who enters this contest with the strength of his home crowd.
The Hyogo-born heavyweight built his name on the global stage with his aggressive style and knockout power, earning highlight-reel finishes on the regional scene before joining the world’s most elite fighters in ONE.
Most recently, the 22-year-old stopped South Korean knockout merchant “Mighty Warrior” Kang Ji Won at ONE Fight Night 34 this past August, registering a first round finish to maintain his perfect finishing rate across five career victories.
Erdogan welcomes Takeuchi’s challenge and plans to use the Japanese star’s aggression against him:
“I know he is young and has ambitions. He is a good striker and the home crowd will push him hard. His strength is his striking, KO power in hands, but I have some key for the victory for this fight. I will show it there.
“He is too aggressive, rushing to opponent straight forward. This is what I want to use versus him. I am confident in my striking and wrestling. I have more experience and my fighting IQ is higher.
“I don’t know the result, but I will do my best to finish it and get my bonus.”
Erdogan Looks To Replicate Malykhin’s Historic Run
As Shamil Erdogan prepares for his heavyweight MMA debut at ONE 173, he’s also keeping an eye on the heavyweight MMA World Title picture.
In the main event, ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane will defend his belt against former divisional kingpin Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin in their highly anticipated rematch.
Erdogan knows that a win over Takeuchi could put him in pole position as the next man in line for a shot at the coveted gold, and he would be willing to face whoever emerges victorious.
He said:
“It will be great fight among two legends. I don’t know Oumar’s shape, but Malykhin [is] approaching the fight probably in the best shape ever. He wants to [get] his belt back.”
Erdogan has a bit of history with Malykhin. The 35-year-old defeated his Russian counterpart in a freestyle wrestling match back when they were younger.
Since that moment, Malykhin went on a tear in MMA, going unbeaten in 14 bouts with a perfect finishing rate and collecting historic ONE World Titles at middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight before losing via split decision to Kane in a highly explosive encounter at ONE 169 last year.
Inspired by the Russian’s success across multiple divisions, Erdogan hopes to follow that same blueprint.
He declared:
“I am ready to overtake and unify belts in middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.”
