KO Artist Kang Ji Won Focused On His ‘Best Weapons’ For Clash With Wrestling Expert Kirill Grishenko

Heavyweight brawler “Mighty Warrior” Kang Ji Won knows he’ll be tested when he squares off with former ONE Interim Heavyweight MMA World Title challenger Kirill Grishenko at ONE Fight Night 23 on Prime Video.

That clash of titans will go down in North American primetime on July 5 from the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and promises explosive action for as long as it lasts.

With four victories and four highlight-reel knockouts in ONE, the South Korean is undeniably one of the heavyweight MMA division’s most devastating punchers and has cemented himself as a true fan favorite.

But when he goes toe-to-toe with Grishenko, Kang will be facing a well-rounded athlete with top-notch grappling chops and monstrous size.

With that in mind, “Mighty Warrior” admits there is no easy path to victory against the Belarusian:

“Well, he is a great wrestler, is a tall fighter, and has great cardio. In all objectivity, he’s a fighter that has no immediate weaknesses. He is a powerful fighter.”

Given his foe’s all-around skills, Kang might be overwhelmed trying to prepare for everything and anything Grishenko might bring to the ring at ONE Fight Night 23.

Instead, he’s focusing largely on what he does best – massive punching power and lightning-fast movement that belies his colossal frame:

“I’m training a lot on getting my conditioning in tip-top form. What’s important is that I continue to train and develop what I’m best at, such as my speed, so I can capitalize on my best weapons during the fight.”

Naturally, Kang isn’t about to give away the specifics of his game plan.

At the same time, fans can expect to witness his trademark brand of aggression and excitement as he looks to climb one step closer to MMA gold and pick up his second consecutive win.

The 28-year-old added:

“We’ll only know when we’re in the ring together, but I believe I will focus on my forward pressure and keep my footwork on point throughout the fight and give him trouble.”

Kang Feels Prepared For Grishenko’s Wrestling

If Kang Ji Won wants to score his fifth knockout in ONE and keep his 100 percent finishing rate intact, he knows he’ll need some sturdy takedown defense against Kirill Grishenko.

That’s because the towering Minsk native is a multiple-time European Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion and has even coached at his nation’s Olympic Training Center.

In contrast, “Mighty Warrior” is a striker by trade, so it’s no surprise that he’s planning to keep the fight standing whenever possible:

“We’re trying our best to be holistic with our approach. Defending the takedown is important, but we’re really looking to invest heavily in using the weapons I have to take the fight to Kirill.

“I’ve consistently faced wrestlers and grapplers, so working on grappling defense has been a second nature to my camps.”