The ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix final between Roman Kryklia vs. Iraj Azizpour will go down as part of the developing ONE 163 card on November 19th.
Announced by ONE Championship, the high-stakes kickboxing showcase will share the stage with the highly-anticipated featherweight kickboxing championship fight between reigning champion Superbon Singha Mawynn and No.1 contender Chingiz Allazov.
Roman Kryklia and Iraj Azizpour are no strangers to one another, having met on two separate occasions in 2018 and 2019 before signing with ONE Championship. With their series tied 1-1, their meeting at ONE 163 will serve as a rubber match with the World Grand Prix title on the line.
Kryklia enters the bout with ONE Championship gold wrapped around his waist, capturing the inaugural ONE light heavyweight kickboxing world title in 2019 when he defeated Tarik Khbabez via TKO. Since then, Kryklia has successfully defended his crown on two separate occasions, defeating Andrei Stoica and Murat Aygun.
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Hailing from Ukraine, Roman Krylia extended his undefeated streak inside the Circle at ONE 161 in September, defeating Guto Inocente via knockout just 52-seconds into the bout. That same night, former KLF kickboxing champion Iraj Azizpour defeated Bruno Chaves via unanimous decision, punching his ticket to the tournament final and a third meeting with Roman Kryklia.
Chatri Sityodtong pumped for Roman Kryklia vs. Iraj Azizpour at ONE 163
Fans around the world will be tuned in on November 19th to see two of kickboxing’s heaviest hitters throw hands in the ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix tournament at ONE 163.
Sharing his thoughts on the heavyweight scrap is Chatri Sityodtong, who believes fans are in for a hell of a show when ONE Championship returns to the Singapore Indoor Stadium:
“I think Roman versus Iraj is going to be a barnburner. I just sense it. I think Roman is going to come in and try to do the same thing he did to Guto. I think Roman is going to come in and try to finish Iraj in one round.”
Sityodtong added:
“There's no doubt, Roman is the greatest light heavyweight striker on the planet now. Nobody can [do what he does]. [He’s] six-foot-seven and he hits like a truck, and he moves well, he's just unbelievable.”
Watch the presser below: