Ben “Vanilla Thunder” Tynan is done with decisions.

The 31-year-old Canadian behemoth will look to return to his finishing ways when he faces Japanese wrecking ball Ryugo Takeuchi in a heavyweight MMA showdown at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video, which goes down live in U.S. primetime this Friday, February 13.

Coming off a frustrating decision loss in his last outing, “Vanilla Thunder” plans to author a commanding performance at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium that will reaffirm him as a true contender for the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title.

Tynan has all the tools to be a legitimate threat to the heavyweight elite.

As a Canadian Junior Freestyle Wrestling Champion with one-punch knockout power and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background, he possesses the skill set to finish opponents in every area of the game.

“Big Bad Vanilla,” as he calls himself, brilliantly displayed that in his promotional debut in November 2023, as he overwhelmed South Korean knockout artist Kang Ji Won en route to a submission victory. He even flatlined Australia’s Duke Didier soon thereafter, though the bout was later declared a no contest.

But his spotless record was shattered at ONE Fight Night 34 last August when he squared off against former ONE Interim Heavyweight MMA World Title challenger Kirill Grishenko. The Belarusian beast nullified his attacks and handed him his first career defeat via unanimous decision.

That setback left a bitter taste in “Vanilla Thunder’s” mouth, as he built his reputation on highlight-reel finishes rather than grinding out victories on points. Although the loss stings, he is even more frustrated that it happened by decision.

Tynan said:

“It was my first decision and kind of a pain in the a**. He’s super technical, and he was really good at winning a decision. It wasn’t until I was in the third round where I realized, ‘This guy’s not even trying to finish me or nothing.’

“I was trying to get him to engage more with big shots, I was trying to get a takedown, and he just did a great job playing from the distance and getting points, essentially.”

Tynan’s upcoming bout with Takeuchi presents the perfect opportunity for him to return to the win column and secure another stoppage victory.

The 22-year-old Japanese monster from King Gym Kobe has experienced a rough start to life in ONE Championship, but he displayed his enormous potential and immense power when he knocked out Kang last year.

Ahead of this heavyweight battle, “Vanilla Thunder” has assembled an elite crew of heavyweight training partners who push each other at High Altitude Martial Arts and Pound 4 Pound Muay Thai, both located in Colorado.

The Canadian said:

“Even though I’m splitting time between different gyms, we still have our big heavyweight group together, and we actually get together, we spar together, and we do wrestling practices together. So, we got a really high-level group of eight or nine heavyweights – legit heavyweights – and it’s been working out great.”

Tynan Promises Quick Finish At ONE Fight Night 40

Ben Tynan has studied Ryugo Takeuchi’s fighting style extensively, spotting both the strengths that make him dangerous and the tendencies that could lead to his downfall.

The punk rock fan recognizes that youth and raw power could be a frightening combination, but he also believes his experience and versatility will prove decisive when they meet in U.S. primetime this Friday.

Tynan said:

“He’s good. He’s explosive and exciting. I think he’s pretty young. He’s got knockout power, but also, that’s pretty common in the heavyweight division, right? So, I feel like experience is going to play a big factor in this fight.

“His biggest strength is his biggest weakness – he just comes out brawling right away, and I think that’s awesome. That’s exciting. He’s not coming out there to play his range and win by points. He’s looking to decapitate people, which is awesome. I love that. I think no more decisions. I’m putting this guy out in one round.”

The Canadian destroyer claims the Japanese brawler’s willingness to engage immediately will create the opportunities necessary to secure the dazzling first-round stoppage he so desperately seeks.

Tynan’s complete skill set gives him multiple paths to victory, allowing him to adjust his strategy based on how the fight develops. Whether the action stays standing or hits the canvas, he feels comfortable imposing his will in any avenue.

He said:

“The good thing about being ‘Vanilla’ is I get to choose where we want to go, right? So, if I get him worried about my takedowns, I’ll take his head off. And then if he’s worried about my hands, I’ll dump him and wreck him on the ground. So, it’s wherever I want it to go.”

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