Stefan Korodi sees victory within his grasp, and he is ready to impose his will when he faces Vladimir Kuzmin at ONE Fight Night 33: Rodrigues vs. Persson on Prime Video.
Their bantamweight Muay Thai showdown will broadcast live in U.S. primetime from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, July 11.
Korodi is looking to build momentum following his recent victory over Katsuki Kitano and aims to find his first highlight-reel knockout in ONE Championship, despite his extensive professional background that includes over 30 fights with nearly half ending by stoppage.
The Romanian-born fighter’s game plan centers on neutralizing Kuzmin’s primary strengths while capitalizing on areas where he can dictate the game.
He told onefc.com:
“I really rate him. I mean, his first fight versus Chris Shaw, he really showed up. And you look at his other names he’s fought, he’s took them all the distance. That says a lot about the caliber he’s fought.”
Despite his respect for Kuzmin’s proven durability and technical skills, Korodi’s excitement for this matchup stems from the tactical challenge it presents.
The Irish striker sees this as the perfect opportunity to test his evolving game against a seasoned veteran who has competed against elite competition.
The Dublin Combat Academy representative said:
“He excites me. I want to know if I can impose myself upon him. And if I win, I’m really curious to see what can come next for me. I want to test my clinch against him too. He’s deadly there. I want to test mine against him.
“If I keep clinching him and keep the pressure on him, I think that’s how I can break him down. He will break.”
Korodi Confident About Stylistic Advantage
While Stefan Korodi respects Vladimir Kuzmin’s abilities and experience against top-level competition, he believes their contrasting approaches will ultimately favor his aggressive, pressure-heavy style.
The Team Mehdi Zatout product has transformed himself since moving to Pattaya, where he trains alongside elite fighters at the world-famous gym.
The 31-year-old said:
“His strength is in his boxing and movement. But his weakness is his cardio. From watching a lot of him, he fatigues very much. And his clinch, I’m going to exploit it all.”
Despite his tactical analysis, Korodi sees clear advantages in how their styles will interact when they meet on fight night.
The Romanian-born fighter believes the contrast in their approaches will create the perfect storm for his aggressive game plan.
He said:
“I think it’s a clash of styles. I have the opposite style of him. The fight is going to depend on who can force their style and impose their will on the other.
“What I see with him is he’s counterattacking a lot and stays with it. Me, if I need to go, I go. If I have to hold back, I will. I think I’m better at adapting on the fly than him. My style on its own is better than his on its own.
“It’s going to be three rounds of slick Muay Thai. Me doing my thing, him doing his. From rounds two onward we will see who figures out who.”
