Marat Grigorian reflects on Victory Over Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong at ONE 165

02 February 2024

In a thrilling showdown at ONE 165: Superlek vs. Takeru on Sunday, January 28, Armenian kickboxing sensation Marat Grigorian delivered one of the most memorable finishes of his career by knocking out longtime rival Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong at Tokyo's Ariake Arena. The victory marked Grigorian's second triumph over the Thai legend in their intense six-match series.

After enduring four closely contested decisions against Sitthichai from 2015 to 2018, Grigorian has now secured back-to-back victories in their recent encounters. The third-round stoppage in Tokyo was the most emphatic win in their rivalry.

Ranked #2 in the featherweight kickboxing division, Grigorian expressed his delight at the result against the formidable #3 contender. Reflecting on the significance of the fight for his legacy, Grigorian stated, “This fight was very important for me. It was for my legacy. Fight number six – we’ve come a long way [from where we started]. We’ve already been fighting at the top for eight years, and we are still here trying to do our best. So, I’m happy that I won again. But who knows, maybe number seven will come.”

The decisive finish came in the sixth match of their series, with Grigorian delivering a crushing knee to the body that left Sitthichai unable to continue. Grigorian earned a well-deserved $US50,000 performance bonus for the spectacular knockout.

Adding to the satisfaction, Grigorian achieved the victory in front of a supportive Japanese audience, a place where he originally rose to prominence by winning the K-1 World Grand Prix in 2015. Grigorian shared his connection with Japan, stating, “My legacy started in Japan in 2015. I have a lot of Japanese fans that always support me. I really love the mentality and the people here. And Japan is the home of kickboxing, so I’m really happy to be back."

Despite leaving the Ariake Arena with a convincing win, Grigorian admitted that the fight didn't entirely go his way. Sitthichai displayed strength in the first round, but Grigorian rallied with intense pressure in the second. Recognizing the stakes entering the final round, Grigorian revealed, “The last round was the decider. Whoever won the round would get the win. For me, it was everything or nothing.”

Ultimately, Grigorian secured the "everything" option, clinching the win, the bonus money, and taking a step closer to another shot at the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title. At 32, Grigorian believes he is still evolving as a fighter and eyes a rematch with the reigning divisional king, Chingiz Allazov. Acknowledging Sitthichai's elite status, Grigorian emphasized, “Sitthichai is also one of the best fighters, he was performing very well, but the knee was just on point.”