Undefeated Turkish fighter Shamil Erdogan will make his heavyweight debut against Japanese prospect Ryugo Takeuchi at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Erdogan brings a perfect 12-0 record to the heavyweight division, having established himself as one of ONE Championship's most dangerous finishers at middleweight. The 35-year-old Kremost Fight Club representative most recently scored a 41-second TKO over Gilberto Galvao at ONE Fight Night 29 in March.
The Turkish fighter's promotional run includes victories over Fan Rong in his debut at ONE Friday Fights 22 in June 2023, followed by back-to-back stoppage wins over Myanmar legend Aung La N Sang. Erdogan's four-fight winning streak has positioned him for the move up in weight.
"I love challenges. I need to prove to myself that I am legit in heavyweight among the best fighters," Erdogan said.
The weight change has required adjustments to Erdogan's preparation, though he maintains his training base in Thailand while incorporating strength work to handle the larger opponents.
"I gained some muscles with pumping iron. Besides it, my training goes as usual. I am spending my camp in Thailand – it is my second home now," Erdogan said.
Takeuchi represents a significant test for Erdogan's heavyweight debut. The 22-year-old Japanese fighter brings a perfect 5-0 record with 100 percent finishing rate to their encounter. Takeuchi most recently stopped Kang Ji Won in the first round at ONE Fight Night 34 in August, maintaining his reputation as an explosive finisher.
The Hyogo native will have home-crowd advantage fighting in Tokyo, adding another challenge for Erdogan to overcome in his new weight class.
Erdogan has studied Takeuchi's aggressive approach and believes the Japanese fighter's forward pressure creates opportunities for a veteran with superior experience.
"I know he is young and has ambitions. He is a good striker and the home crowd will push him hard," Erdogan said. "He is too aggressive, rushing to opponent straight forward. This is what I want to use versus him. I am confident in my striking and wrestling. I have more experience and my fighting IQ is higher."
Erdogan's move to heavyweight comes with championship aspirations beyond his debut. The Turkish fighter draws inspiration from Anatoly Malykhin, who became ONE's first three-division champion before losing the heavyweight title to Oumar Kane at ONE 169 last year.
Erdogan and Malykhin share history from their wrestling backgrounds, having competed against each other before their respective MMA careers.
"I am ready to overtake and unify belts in middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight," Erdogan said.
Kane defends his heavyweight title against Malykhin in the main event of ONE 173, potentially setting up future opportunities for Erdogan if he successfully navigates his heavyweight debut.
