The wait is finally over. Marat Grigorian and Kaito will settle their rivalry at ONE SAMURAI 1 on April 29 inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo, where the two featherweight kickboxing stars finally share the ring after months of bad blood.
Their rivalry traces back to ONE 172 last year, when Grigorian missed weight by less than a pound days before the scheduled bout. Kaito refused to accept a catchweight contest, and the fight was pulled from the card. Both men exchanged jabs outside of competition, and the animosity between them has only intensified since.
Grigorian enters as one of the sport's most decorated names. The 34-year-old Armenian carries a 69-14 career record and a 6-3 ONE record into the night, riding a two-fight win streak. For him, this fight carries a significance that goes beyond settling a personal score.
"I'll keep my prediction to myself. But I can tell you, he will feel what I'm bringing into this fight by the first round. This is [going to be] more than just a win. Fighting and winning in Japan — that's special," Grigorian said.
Standing across from him will be Kaito, a 28-year-old Japanese fighter who brings a formidable 59-9 striking record to the ring.
"It will not be easy, but I am going to finish him. I think this will be a very exciting fight, and I think it's not going to go the distance. It's going to be a good fight for the fans. But I see myself beating him and knocking him out," Kaito admitted.
The stakes extend well beyond personal pride for Grigorian. A dominant showing in Tokyo could set up the biggest opportunity of his ONE career, a shot against ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
The Armenian veteran is well aware of what a defining win here could unlock.
"If I dominate, there's only one fight that makes sense: Superbon. No more questions. I'm in my prime right now. This is the moment where everything comes together," Grigorian said.
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