Lyndon Knowles` debut under the promotion came to a swift conclusion as Roman Kryklia secured a decisive stoppage victory at ONE Fight Night 30.
Knowles, a three-time WBC Muay Thai World Champion, entered the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok aiming to bring the ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai world title back to Britain. However, the defending two-sport champion, Kryklia, proved too formidable.
Approximately halfway through the opening round, Kryklia hurt the British fighter with a jab-cross combination, followed by a knee, and then dropped him with a left hook.
Knowles managed to stand up after the referee`s eight-count, but he was immediately sent back down by two head kicks and another left hook.
He rose to his feet for the second and final time before Kryklia ended the fight definitively with a clean jab and right hand combination.
This first-round knockout win allowed Kryklia to successfully defend his belt, bringing his professional record to 51-7. His spectacular finish also earned him a $50,000 (£38,800) performance bonus.
While Knowles was unsuccessful in his first ONE Championship appearance, three other British athletes on the card celebrated victories in Thailand.
Nico Carrillo made a powerful return to the featherweight Muay Thai division, defeating the highly accomplished eight-time Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong.
George Jarvis secured a win against his former rival, Mouhcine Chafi, in a rematch. Paul Elliott also had a dominant performance, earning a TKO victory over the previously undefeated Japanese prospect Ryugo Takeuchi.
