Heavyweight Slugger Rade Opacic Determined to Test Iraj Azizpour’s Chin at ONE 165 – “We Won’t Be Going the Distance”

Heavyweight slugger Rade Opacic is ready to add to his highlight reel when he squares off with Iranian standout Iraj Azizpour in an explosive kickboxing bout this Sunday, January 28, at ONE 165: Superlek vs. Takeru.

The two heavy hitters will collide at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, and Opacic says fans can expect him to throw bombs until his foe hits the canvas.

Rade Opacic is unfazed by the power Iraj Azizpour possesses

The 26-year-old Serbian recognizes the threat posed by Azizpour, who has won three of four bouts in the world’s largest martial arts organization and comes into this contest following a hard-fought knockout loss to Roman Kryklia in the final of the ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix.

But as powerful as the Iranian is, Opacic says he presents a sitting target. 

He broke down the key dynamics in this colossal showdown:

“Azizpour has knockout power. He’s a big guy. He put Kryklia down, he put Ismael Londt down. He can definitely hit hard. But I like fighting styles like this guy’s. He stands there and doesn’t move. He throws some spinning kicks, but in the end, he is there, standing still. I just like to stand there and bang and see who the strongest guy is. So that’s a good thing for me.  

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“As I said, he has good power in kicks and punches, and he’s experienced. But I’m just going to try to develop my style in the fight, my pace, my pressure. And we will see who will get the better of it. I’m sure it’s going to be a good fight and that we won’t be going the distance.” 

Will the fight go the full distance when these two meet at ONE 165?

Opacic is wise to predict a knockout. He has finished all but one of his six ONE victories inside the distance, and now riding back-to-back wins, he looks to be in the finest condition of his career.

It comes as no surprise, then, that he’s brimming with confidence ahead of his clash with Azizpour:

“I think I’m a better fighter, and I’m going to show it on January 28. I’m going to finish it. Anybody who is in the ring with me, I’m going to go to finish them. It doesn’t matter if it’s Iraj or anybody else.  

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“Iraj has a good chin. He can take a lot of punches. But he hasn’t felt mine yet. I’m going to do my best to finish him in any way possible.”