Ryugo Takeuchi understands exactly what a first-round TKO loss does to a young fighter's trajectory — it plants doubt where confidence once flourished, stalls momentum built through previous victories, and forces uncomfortable questions about whether early success was sustainable or fleeting.
The 22-year-old Japanese knockout artist absorbed all those harsh lessons when Shamil Erdogan stopped him at ONE 173 last November.
Now the frustrated heavyweight gets his chance to explode when he faces Canadian wrestler Ben Tynan in a heavyweight contest at ONE Fight Night 40 on February 13 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The event broadcasts live in U.S. primetime on Amazon Prime Video.
The months since that devastating defeat have been particularly difficult for Takeuchi. Five professional victories, four coming by first-round knockout, an average fight time of just 3 minutes and 26 seconds — the credentials suggested a legitimate finishing threat ascending rapidly. Then reality arrived violently, exposing defensive vulnerabilities.
That frustration has been building, accumulating, festering into something dangerous heading into February 13. Takeuchi isn't looking to ease back with a cautious performance. He's hunting a statement finish that announces the Erdogan loss was aberration rather than indication of his ceiling.
"After ONE 173 where I lost in that manner, I've had a lot of frustration building up inside me, dissatisfaction with how things went, all of that combined," Takeuchi admitted. "I have so much frustration accumulated, and I'm planning to make this the fight where I explode with all of it."
Tynan presents exactly the kind of opponent where explosion could materialize quickly. The Canadian wrestler brings legitimate credentials and an undefeated 8-0 record featuring six consecutive finishes, his most recent victory coming via first-round stoppage of Duke Didier at ONE Fight Night 21 last April. But Takeuchi has studied the tape extensively, identifying tactical patterns and potential weaknesses that favor his aggressive striking style.
The size differential creates legitimate challenges. Tynan carries more than 10 kilograms additional mass, that weight advantage particularly dangerous in clinch exchanges where pure strength becomes factor. The Japanese prospect acknowledges those realities honestly, understanding where he can't compete physically and adjusting his approach accordingly.
"He's pretty good at tackles, single-leg takedowns, so I'm watching out for that," Takeuchi explained. "Also, he's quite heavier than me — more than 10 kilos heavier — so he's a big fighter. When we clinch up, I'm being conscious not to get into a strength battle. I've been practicing transitions and staying aware of that."
But awareness of opponent strengths matters less than exploiting critical weaknesses. Takeuchi believes Tynan's wrestling credentials mask fundamental gaps in his striking game and potentially deeper issues with mental fortitude under sustained pressure. The Canadian actively avoids chaotic exchanges, preferring to implement his wrestling rather than stand and trade.
"Watching his fights, he's a fighter who doesn't get into striking exchanges at all," Takeuchi said. "So his weakness is striking, and if I had to say more, I think he might be mentally weak."
That assessment shapes Takeuchi's entire tactical approach. While acknowledging Tynan will likely attempt takedowns throughout the fight, the Japanese striker has made clear declarations about how he responds if the contest hits the canvas. Rather than engaging in grinding ground exchanges that drain energy and extend rounds, he'll scramble back to his feet immediately and force Tynan into exactly the kind of striking battle the Canadian has spent his career avoiding.
"I don't hate the ground game. I can do it. I'm not that great at it, but I can do it, so I don't hate it," Takeuchi explained. "But I want to excite the crowd. How should I put it? I want to win in an impactful way, so if I get taken down, I won't engage in ground fighting. I'll immediately stand back up and beat him to a pulp."
The confidence isn't misplaced arrogance. Takeuchi's finishing rate speaks for itself — perfect through five professional victories, the kind of stopping power that makes opponents genuinely reluctant to engage in firefights. When technique abandons both fighters and pure chaos takes over, when combinations blur into survival instincts and heart matters more than game plans, he believes Tynan crumbles.
"When it becomes a striking scramble, when it turns into a brawl, there's absolutely no way I'll lose," Takeuchi declared. "I don't feel like I'll lose any standup battle at all.
"If it becomes an intense battle, it will definitely end in the first round," Takeuchi predicted.
