Kirill Grishenko has nothing but respect for Ben “Vanilla Thunder” Tynan, but that won’t stop him from doing everything necessary to destroy his spotless record when they collide in Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium.
The former ONE Interim Heavyweight MMA World Title challenger believes that his experience and skill set will prove decisive when he meets the Canadian rising star at ONE Fight Night 34: Eersel vs. Jarvis on Prime Video, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime on Friday, August 1.
Grishenko knows the importance of this match.
The Belarusian enters this pivotal clash on a two-bout winning streak, and a victory over an undefeated heavyweight phenom would see him take another massive step toward his ultimate objective – reclaiming his position as the division’s top contender.
He said:
“Everything I want and work toward is that ONE belt. A win over Ben gets me closer to that goal.”
Grishenko’s approach reflects the mindset of a seasoned professional who has enjoyed a promising start to his MMA career.
After rattling off a trio of first-round victories in his home country, the Minsk native joined ONE Championship, where he has made a big impact. For instance, in his promotional debut, he gave future ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane the first and only loss of his career back in April 2021.
The Belarusian wrestler also shared the Circle with another elite behemoth – reigning two-division ONE World Champion Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin, who he challenged for the vacant ONE Interim Heavyweight MMA World Title in February 2022. Though he fell to the mighty Russian, Grishenko rebuilt his entire game and elevated his skills to even greater heights.
However, things continue to get more and more interesting at the top of the weight class. With Kane having captured the World Championship from Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin at ONE 169 in November 2024, and their upcoming second encounter scheduled for ONE 173 in Japan on November 16, the heavyweight MMA division’s landscape continues to evolve.
That movement can create opportunities for contenders like Grishenko, who believes a dominant performance against Tynan could position him perfectly for another World Title shot regardless of who emerges victorious from the Kane-Malykhin rematch.
Grishenko understands how important achieving the victory is next month, but that doesn’t mean he’s overlooking the Canadian’s abilities. In fact, the 34-year-old acknowledges the legitimate threat his opponent presents while remaining supremely confident about the outcome.
The Belarusian offered:
“Is Ben on the level of Anatoly and ‘Reug Reug?’ Absolutely. I never underestimate my opponents. I always prepare for the toughest possible scenario – only then can you be ready for anything.
“He’s a media-friendly guy and a high-level athlete, so again, it’s a great opportunity for my growth. But the future of this division? That’s me.”
Part of that media appeal includes Tynan’s reputation for psychological warfare and showmanship, traits that have made him a fan favorite.
But that doesn’t concern the battle-tested Belarusian one bit.
Grishenko added:
“His mind games don’t bother me at all. If anything, they give me more motivation to win. It doesn’t matter what he says or does, we won’t be talking inside the [ring].”
Grishenko Breaks Down His Game Plan Against Tynan
Beyond the World Title implications, Kirill Grishenko has been meticulously preparing for the tactical challenge Ben Tynan presents.
His assessment of the Canadian is thorough and honest, recognizing the legitimate wrestling credentials that saw “Vanilla Thunder” qualify for the NCAA Division I National Championships and establish himself as a Junior Freestyle National Champion.
That pedigree has translated to flawless results in mixed martial arts competition. The Canadian has finished every opponent he has ever faced, both on the amateur and professional level.
Tynan now proudly sports a 5-0 professional record with a 100 percent finishing rate, and he displayed his grappling skills to perfection by submitting dangerous striker Kang Ji Won in his promotional debut in November 2023. Along the way, he has added serious firepower to his boxing arsenal and has further developed his all-around striking repertoire at Pound 4 Pound Muay Thai in Colorado, USA.
But at his core, Tynan remains a wrestler first, setting up a fascinating Greco-Roman versus freestyle wrestling battle that intrigues Grishenko most.
The Belarusian said:
“Yeah, we’re both wrestlers, but we come from different styles. Let’s not forget we’re fighting under MMA rules, and it all comes down to who’s better at adapting their wrestling to striking.
“We know he’ll be trying to take the fight to the ground constantly with his shots – we’re prepared for that. I’ve been training with guys who are stylistically similar to Ben, plus we’ve developed our own strategies.”
The Belarusian’s confidence in his striking gives him multiple paths to victory, believing his improved stand-up game will create problems for a wrestling-heavy opponent.
Grishenko, a National Boxing Champion, already displayed his punching skills when he overwhelmed Kang in a stand-up war in July 2024, and he showed just how dangerous his kicks can be when he forced Mauro Cerilli to give up with a devastating leg kick this past February.
Years of competing at the highest level have given Grishenko complete faith in his ability to dictate where this fight takes place.
He said:
“I think people have already seen that I can box and kick. Striking is not an issue. When you live this life, give everything to training, and fully commit, there’s no reason to doubt yourself.
“I take him seriously as an opponent – and I’m not letting my guard down for a second.”
