Britain’s Lyndon Knowles challenges Ukrainian powerhouse Roman Kryklia for the ONE heavyweight Muay Thai world title, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
Knowles is getting into ONE Championship, the world’s largest platform for martial arts, for the primary time. However he’s the WBC’s heavyweight Muay Thai champion and vastly skilled within the sport. He is had 98 fights in his profession.
“For me, it’s the pinnacle now of Thai boxing and that’s where I want to be, especially now,” he advised Sky Sports activities. “It’s a good way to sign off after two decades in the sport.
“I really feel like I’ve acquired the solutions and the upset’s coming.”
Knowles is a vibrant character, immediately recognisable for his lengthy, curling moustache and shiny bowler hat.
Going through Kryklia, who boasts an impeccable ONE document of six wins, 5 by knockout, presents a frightening problem.
“He’s formidable,” Knowles mentioned. “His strengths are he is acquired that knockout energy in his punches and he is acquired these devastating knees.
“I can close the distance so he can’t get off the long hooks. I can work around the knees, catch them and parry them to cause my own devastating effect with some elbows or punches.
“It is not a straightforward process I’ve acquired and I am effectively conscious of that.”
Knowles, skilled by his brother Christian, is not any stranger to the ONE Championship setting, having supported gym-mates like Jonathan Haggerty from the nook. “We’re the gym that makes the impossible possible,” he mentioned.
Knowles has left no stone unturned in his preparation. His latest coaching camp in Las Vegas with UFC’s Khalil Rountree helped him alter to ONE’s smaller gloves and refine his hanging.
“Thankfully, this camp I’ve been out in Las Vegas with Khalil Rountree from the UFC, and he’s a pro in fighting in little gloves.”
“It’s helped me work on my defence that is totally different now in small gloves and also my offence because you can now fire shots from different angles, and they will sneak through people’s guards easier. It’s been absolutely incredible out here in Vegas.”
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ONE Championship delivers pleasure. Right here Nakrob Fairtex lands an enormous left hand to knock out his opponent
Regardless of Kryklia’s devastating energy and vary, Knowles stays assured in his capacity to disrupt the Ukrainian’s rhythm and dethrone the champion.
“My style in the ring is I’m a pressure fighter, I like to come forward. I know I’ve got to be a little bit clever with this time because he’s got some great long knees,” he mentioned. “I just like to entertain. That’s who I am as a person.
“I am positively wanting ahead to proving lots of people unsuitable,” he continued. “It is positively not going to go 5 rounds.”
For Knowles, this isn’t just another fight – it’s a career-defining moment on Muay Thai’s grandest stage as he looks to shake up the heavyweight division and claim the throne in emphatic fashion.
‘I destroyed myself’
The exciting card topped by Kryklia vs Knowles also features bantamweight title challenger Nico Carrillo stepping up to featherweight to take on Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong.
Scotland’s “King of the North” Carrillo goes straight into a tough struggle after a punishing loss to Nabil Anane for the Interim Muay Thai title.
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Scotsman Nico Carrillo could not make it previous the primary spherical in opposition to the damaging six foot 4 Nabil Anane
However Carrillo is reinvigorated by the transfer up in weight and looking out ahead to taking over Sitthichai.
“He’s a legend. You could say he’s probably one of the best kickboxers of our modern era,” Carrillo advised Sky Sports activities.
Reflecting on the loss to Anane, he mentioned: “It was just a terrible experience and it had to happen in the biggest opportunity of my life.
“In my view I used to be beat 24 hours earlier than I stood within the ring. and it was on the scales. I destroyed myself.”
Though he added: “It is arduous [to move out of the division] if you’re getting a gold belt waved in your face… I used to be completely blinded by it. Now I’ve hit a wee reset button
“Let’s enjoy the process, let’s see what happens, one fight at a time.”
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Jonathan Haggerty discusses Nico Carrillo’s loss to Nabil Anane and why we may nonetheless see a future struggle regardless of Carrillo transferring up in weight
Forward of this struggle he is additionally spent a while teaching blended martial arts legend Georges St-Pierre.
“I actually took him through a little Muay Thai session,” Carrillo mentioned. “Just doing some drills and teaching him some cool Muay Thai techniques.
“Even for me I am studying in Muay Thai day-after-day. For an MMA man, it’s actually two totally different worlds.
“Muay Thai’s so intricate, it’s a different sport from any, in my opinion when it comes to striking.”
Watch Kryklia vs Knowles dwell on Sky Sports activities Combine from 1am
