Lyndon Knowles` first appearance in ONE Championship ended abruptly when Roman Kryklia achieved a decisive knockout victory at ONE Fight Night 30.
Knowles, a three-time WBC Muay Thai World Champion, aimed to bring the ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai world title back to Britain from Bangkok`s Lumpinee Stadium. However, Kryklia, the reigning two-sport champion, had different plans.
Midway through the first round, Kryklia stunned Knowles with a jab-cross, followed by a knee strike, and then knocked him down with a left hook.
After Knowles got back up following the referee`s count, he was knocked down again by two head kicks and another left hook.
He rose to his feet a second and final time, only for Kryklia to finish the fight with a jab and right hand combination.
With this first-round knockout, Kryklia defended his title, improved his record to 51-7, and earned a $50,000 performance bonus for his impressive finish.
Despite Knowles` defeat in his ONE Championship debut, three other fighters from Team UK achieved victories in Thailand.
Nico Carrillo made a successful return to ONE Championship`s featherweight Muay Thai division, defeating Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong, an eight-time Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion.
George Jarvis secured a victory against his rival Mouhcine Chafi, and Paul Elliott achieved a TKO win over undefeated Japanese prospect Ryugo Takeuchi.
