Former ONE featherweight kickboxing world title challenger Marat Grigorian of Armenia is one of the most skilled strikers in the kickboxing world. But he’s not just a one-dimensional, one-trick pony.
In fact, Grigorian’s style is highly complex and layered.
The legendary Armenian recently delivered a striking masterclass at ONE SAMURAI 1 in Tokyo, where he took home an emphatic first-round knockout victory over Japanese rival Kaito Ono last April.
That win established his position at the top of the featherweight kickboxing division in the world’s largest martial arts organization, and he has been promised a shot at the gold against longtime rival Superbon in his next fight.
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Having shared the ONE Championship ring with the dangerous Thai veteran many times before, Grigorian is completely confident that his evolution as a martial artist will be the deciding factor when they clash once again.
Speaking to Sportskeeda MMA in an exclusive interview, Grigorian spoke about his mental and physical improvements ahead of their blockbuster rematch.
He stated:
“I’m more complete now. Smarter, calmer, but still dangerous. I’ve learned from every fight, especially the ones against him. There will be a different version of me in this next fight.”
Marat Grigorian rates his performance against Kaito Ono at ONE SAMURAI 1: “I’ve always been a perfectionist”
As breathtaking as his first-round knockout of Kaito Ono was at ONE SAMURAI 1, Marat Grigorian doesn’t believe he performed at his best.
The 35-year-old Armenian recently graded himself:
“I’ve always been a perfectionist, so I would say there’s always something that I could have done better. Maybe I could’ve been even sharper from the start, maybe more aggressive or precise. But the win was very close to how I pictured it, dominant, controlled, and decisive.”
ONE SAMURAI 1 went down live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on April 29. Fans in the United States and Canada can catch a replay of the action on-demand via live.onefc.com.
Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding Marat Grigorian’s next fight.
Edited by Saiyed Adeem Karim