‘They Became The Prey’ – Samet Agdeve Ready To Silence The Doubters Again In Roman Kryklia Sequel At The Inner Circle 19
ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion Samet “The King” Agdeve has already reached the absolute pinnacle of the sport. Now, he aims to leave no shred of doubt that he belongs there.
The undefeated Turkish fighter will defend his coveted crown against two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion Roman Kryklia in the co-main event of The Inner Circle 19 on Friday, June 19. The highly anticipated sequel to their heated rivalry streams live in Asia primetime via live.onefc.com from Bangkok’s historic Lumpinee Stadium.
Agdeve shocked the combat sports world when he defeated the seemingly untouchable Kryklia last November to become the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion. Now, with the decorated Ukrainian standing across from him once again, the 22-year-old heavy hitter has a golden opportunity to strengthen his iron grip on the division’s summit.
He said:
“Beating Roman was not a surprise. It was the result of years of hard work, sacrifice, and belief in myself. People may have been surprised by the outcome, but I wasn’t. I knew what I was capable of, and that victory was simply the reward for all the effort I had put in throughout my career.”
For years, Agdeve worked tirelessly toward an opportunity that many outside observers believed would never come. When it finally materialized against one of the most decorated champions in combat sports history, he was determined to seize it.
He said:
“For a long time, people saw me as the bait. But when the opportunity came, they became the prey. That’s the story of my journey and that’s what happened against Roman Kryklia.”
The pre-fight perception surrounding Agdeve’s first encounter with Kryklia was understandable. After all, the Ukrainian entered the bout as one of the most accomplished athletes in ONE Championship history.
As a three-time ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion, two-time ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Champion, and ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix winner, Kryklia had built a reputation as a terrifyingly dominant striker.
Few expected the 22-year-old to overcome him, but Agdeve completely refused to embrace the underdog label.
At ONE Fight Night 37, he stormed forward from the opening bell, utilizing aggressive boxing combinations and relentless calf kicks to disrupt Kryklia’s rhythm and negate his massive reach advantage. By the third round, the damage to Kryklia’s lead leg had become increasingly apparent.
The 6-foot-7 behemoth was forced to switch stances, while Agdeve continued to dictate the pace on his way to a unanimous decision victory and the biggest win of his career. While many observers viewed the result as a monumental upset, Agdeve believes that narrative completely overlooks everything that came before it.
“The King” explained:
“True champions don’t win by surprise. Success at this level comes from years of preparation, discipline, and hard work.
“What people call a surprise is often the result of sacrifices they never saw behind the scenes. I earned that victory, and I believe true champions create their own opportunities through dedication and belief in themselves.”
Agdeve Is Unfazed By Kryklia’s Desire For Revenge
Roman Kryklia will enter The Inner Circle 19 with a full five rounds of experience against Samet Agdeve and a prime chance to avenge the first and only defeat of his ONE career.
Many believe that familiarity could benefit the decorated Ukrainian in this high-stakes rematch. Agdeve, however, is far less concerned about what Kryklia may have learned from their first encounter. For the reigning king, the focus remains exactly where it was before he captured the inaugural World Title: his own preparation.
He said:
“That doesn’t really concern me. We’ll find out what he has learned when the bell rings.
“Until then, it’s all speculation. My focus is on myself, my preparation, and being ready for whatever he brings into the ring.”
Kryklia may believe that familiarity gives him a definitive edge heading into the rematch, but Agdeve remains completely committed to the exact same mindset that carried him to victory last November.
He believes none of that changes his ultimate task on June 19.
Agdeve concluded:
“Honestly, I don’t care. Whether he has felt my power and pressure before or not doesn’t change my mindset.
“My job is to go into the ring, perform at my best, and defend my title. What he knows or expects is his concern, not mine.”
