"I destroy people" - Roman Kryklia transforms into a knockout machine when he steps inside the ring

Roman Kryklia lives two completely different lives, and only one of them involves destruction.

The reigning ONE light heavyweight kickboxing and heavyweight Muay Thai world champion returns to action in an attempt to add yet another 26 pounds of gold in the main event of ONE Fight Night 37 this Friday, Nov. 7.

He faces undefeated Turkish slugger Samet Agdeve (17-0) for the inaugural ONE heavyweight kickboxing world title.

In a pre-fight interview with ONE Championship before his bid to become a triple champ, the 34-year-old Ukrainian powerhouse opened up about the stark contrast between his personality outside the Circle and the ruthless competitor he becomes once the bell rings.

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"My style is to separate my casual life and my life in the ring. I like to be calm and kind in life, but totally different inside the ring," Roman Kryklia told the promotion.

This balance, perhaps, prevents burnout and keeps his violence reserved exclusively for competition.

"I'm very calm in life. But when I come inside the ring, I destroy people," he continued.

For the Ukrainian giant, who stands as the most dominant striker in two of the heaviest weight brackets in the striking realm, his perfect 7-0 record in ONE Championship validates his dual-nature approach to martial arts.

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Roman Kryklia's transformation is complete when Circle door closes

Roman Kryklia's mental switch from calm gentleman to destructive force represents the ultimate form of fight-night focus.

Many fighters struggle to find the right balance – either remaining too aggressive in daily life, leading to burnout and personal conflicts, or failing to access their killer instinct when competition demands it.

Kryklia's mastery of this transformation has allowed him to maintain longevity at the elite level while securing devastating knockouts that have made him a feared name across multiple weight classes and combat disciplines.

As he prepares to face Agdeve, a 21-year-old promotional newcomer who brings his own 'kill or be killed' mentality and has put 12 opponents to sleep, Kryklia's ability to instantly transform into destruction mode could be the difference between championship glory and a shocking upset.

The youngster's aggressive philosophy meets the veteran's controlled violence this Friday when these two heavyweight knockout artists collide in Bangkok.

North American Amazon Prime Video subscribers can catch the entire ONE Fight Night 37 card live in U.S. primetime for free this Friday, Nov. 7.

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Edited by Aziel Karthak