News
By Ben Coate
Date: Dec 24, 2024
‘Happy To Be Back’ – Marat Grigorian Reflects On Knockout Win At ONE Friday Fights 92
At ONE Friday Fights 92, a battle between Sitthichai and Shadow, kickboxing legend Marat Grigorian made a powerful return to the winning circle.
On December 20, the Armenian superstar achieved a remarkable second-round knockout against young Moroccan star Abdelali "Black Diamond" Zahidi at the renowned Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
This victory marked the 68th win of Grigorian’s illustrious career, occurring eight months after his attempt to claim the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title, which he lost to longtime rival Superbon.
Following his strong performance, Grigorian expressed his thoughts in an interview with onefc.com, revealing that he was surprised Zahidi accepted to fight him at this stage in his career.
“I was happy to be back in the ring. I was just happy to fight against Zahidi. I was a bit surprised that he accepted the fight,” he said.
With this win, Grigorian remains a contender for the coveted ONE Championship gold. He acknowledged Zahidi for his tough fight and reflected on why he was pleased to compete in 2024.
"[Zahidi] did a good job. It was a little bit short notice for me, this fight. It was really last minute, but I accepted the fight. As a fighter, you need to be always ready. And yes, I’m happy that I took the fight. I got the chance to fight again, so it was good," he remarked.
A three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion known for his punching power and resilience, Grigorian has established himself as one of the most beloved knockout artists in the realm of combat sports.
In the light of his latest victory, he expressed gratitude towards his fans: “For my fans, thank you. All around the world, I always get so much love and support. Thank you for following me. Thank you for always sending me nice things, and I hope to be back as soon as possible.”
Grigorian Targets Liu Mengyang Next
Looking ahead, Grigorian aims to keep challenging himself against the top fighters globally. With interim featherweight king Superbon gearing up to contend for the undisputed title, Grigorian knows he needs to face a persistent contender in the meantime.
One potential opponent on his radar is the dynamic Chinese fighter “Spirit Dragon” Liu Mengyang, who made a name for himself with an upset victory over Japanese star Masaaki Noiri at ONE Friday Fights 92.
“I saw that [Liu Mengyang] beat Noiri. So maybe [I’d face] him, I don’t know. Who else? So maybe I am going to fight against him,” Grigorian commented.
Despite Liu’s impressive performance, Grigorian remains focused on capturing a ONE World Title, regardless of the route he must take to reach that goal.
"That’s the goal, that’s the mindset, you know? I’m aiming to be the World Champion," Grigorian concluded.
