Marat_Grigorian

Marat Grigorian

Marat Grigorian

Armenian-Belgian kickboxer (born 1991)


Marat Grigorian (Armenian: Մարատ Գրիգորյան; born 29 May 1991) is an Armenian-Belgian kickboxer currently signed to ONE Championship, where he competes in the featherweight division. Grigorian has previously competed for Glory and is a former Glory Lightweight Champion. He is famous for his technical aggressive fighting style and knockout power.[5] Combat Press ranks him as the #2 lightweight and #4 pound-for-pound kickboxer in the world.[6] As of October 12, 2023, he is ranked #2 in the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing rankings.[7]

Quick Facts Born, Nationality ...

Background

Marat Grigorian was born on 29 May 1991 in Talin, Soviet Armenia and has three older sisters.[1] The family moved to Germany when he was three years old, but were sent back to Armenia after three years in the country.[1] After gathering funds by working multiple simultaneous odd jobs, the parents relocated the family to Antwerp, Belgium, when Marat was nine.[1] In Belgium, Marat started training kickboxing in a nearby gym in his early adolescent years.[1]

Kickboxing career

Glory

Marat trains at Hemmers Gym in the Netherlands. He has established himself as one of the rising stars of the Dutch circuit around the 70 kg weight category. According to Simon Rutz, the promoter of It's Showtime, Grigorian has a potential to be the next big star.[8]

In 2011, Grigorian fought for the inaugural It's Showtime 73MAX world title, losing a close unanimous decision to Yohan Lidon.[9] Grigorian did, however, become the youngest fighter to ever challenge for a Showtime title, at the age of 18.

He was set to face Mohamed Khamal at Glory 2: Brussels in Brussels, Belgium. However, Khamal pulled out of this bout citing personal issues and was replaced by Alex Vogel.[10][11] He defeated Vogel via TKO due to low kicks in the second round.[12]

Grigorian fought Chingiz Allazov at Glory 7: Milan in Milan, Italy on 20 April 2013.[13] The bout ended in a no contest late in round one when Allazov was cut above the nose by an unintentional elbow.[14] Grigorian won a rematch via decision on 14 December 2013.

He lost to Robin van Roosmalen via split decision in the co-main event of Glory 15: Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey on 12 April 2014.[15]

Grigorian took part in the Topking lightweight tournament, the quarterfinals of which were held at Topking World Series 2 on November 15, 2014. Despite beating Abraham Roqueñi by decision at this event and Seyedisa Alamdarnezam by decision at Topking World Series 3 on December 20, 2014, he later withdrew from the tournament.[16]

Grigorian competed in the eight-man grand prix at the K-1 World GP 2015 -70kg Championship Tournament held in Tokyo, Japan on 4 July 2015. He defeated Yoichi Yamazaki and Makihira Keita by second-round knockouts in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively, and defeated Jordan Pikeur by a first-round knockout in the finals to win the K-1 -70kg Championship.[17]

In 2016, Grigorian fought Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong twice, with the first bout taking place in the Glory Lightweight Contender Tournament finals and the second bout being for the Glory Lightweight Championship held by Sitthichai. Grigorian lost both bouts by close decisions.[18]

After twice falling short against Sitthichai, Grigorian faced Djime Coulibaly at Glory 30: Los Angeles on May 13, 2016. He won the fight by a first-round knockout, flooring Coulibaly with a head kick.[19] Grigorian returned to China for his next fight, as he was booked to face Steve Moxon at The Legend of Emei 9 on June 5, 2016. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[20] Grigorian's next bout likewise took place under the Legend of Emei promotional banner, as he faced Mohamed El-Mir at their tenth event on July 9, 2016. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout, extending his stoppage streak to three consecutive fights.[21]

Grigorian was expected to face Hysni Beqiri in the co-main event of Glory 39: Brussels on March 25, 2017. Beqiri later withdrew for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Anton Petrov.[22] He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[23] Grigorian faced Antonio Gomez at Glory 42: Paris on June 10, 2017. He won the fight by a second-round knockout.[24]

Grigorian faced Jomthong Chuwattana, in a qualification bout for the Kunlun Fight lightweight tournament, at Kunlun Fight 65 - World MAX 2017 Final 16 on August 27, 2017. He won the fight by a second-round knockout.[25] Grigorian faced Mohamed Mezouari in the quarterfinals at Kunlun Fight 67 - World MAX 2017 Final 8 on November 12, 2017.[26] He won the fight by unanimous decision. Grigorian faced Dzianis Zuev in the penultimate bout of the tournament at Kunlun Fight 69 - World MAX 2017 on February 4, 2018. He once again won by unanimous decision.[27] Grigorian faced Superbon Banchamek in the finals at Kunlun Fight 69 - World MAX 2017 on very same day. He won the fight by a first-round knockout, needing just 29 seconds to stop Superbon.[28]

After beating Liu Xu by unanimous decision at Glory 54: Birmingham on June 2, 2018, Grigorian was booked to face Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong for the fourth time in his career, with Sitthichai's Glory Lightweight Championship on the line.[29] Sitthichai once again prevailed, winning the fight by split decision.[30]

In a fifth fight with Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong, Marat Grigorian defeated him at Glory 65 to win the title of Glory Lightweight Champion. Grigorian knocked Sitthichai down in the second round.[31][32]

Grigorian made his first title defense against Tyjani Beztati at Glory 69: Düsseldorf on October 12, 2019.[33] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[34] Grigorian made his second and final title defense against the undefeated Elvis Gashi at Glory 73: Shenzhen on December 7, 2019.[35] He retained the title by a fifth-round knockout.[36]

ONE Championship

On August 23, 2020, news surfaced that Grigorian had signed with ONE Championship.[37] He made his promotional debut against Ivan Kondratev at ONE Championship: Big Bang on December 4, 2020.[38] After getting knocked down by Kondratev in the first round, Grigorian came back to win via second-round knockout.[39]

Grigorian was scheduled to face Andy Souwer at ONE Championship: First Strike on October 15, 2021 in the quarterfinals of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix.[40] He won the fight by second-round technical knockout.[41]

Grigorian was expected to face Chingiz Allazov in the semifinals of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix at ONE Championship: Only the Brave on January 28, 2022.[42] He withdrew from the bout after a positive COVID-19 test.[43]

Grigorian challenged the reigning ONE Featherweight kickboxing champion Superbon Banchamek at ONE: X on March 25, 2022.[44] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[45]

Grigorian was expected to face Tayfun Özcan at ONE on Prime Video 2 on September 30, 2022.[46] On September 21, Özcan was rescheduled to challenge the reigning ONE Kickboxing Featherweight champion Superbon Singha Mawynn, while Grigorian was booked to face Jamal Yusupov.[47] As both Superbon and Yusupov failed the pre-fight medical, Grigorian and Özcan were once again schedule to face each other on September 29.[48] Grigorian won the fight by unanimous decision.[49]

Grigorian challenged Chingiz Allazov for the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship in a trilogy bout at ONE Fight Night 13 on August 4, 2023.[50] He twice faced Allazov prior to this fight, going to a no contest in their first meeting and winning the second one by unanimous decision.[51] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[52]

Grigorian faced Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong at ONE 165 on January 28, 2024.[53] He won the fight by a third-round knockout.[54]

Grigorian faced Superbon Singha Mawynn for the interim ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship at ONE Friday Fights 58 on April 5, 2024.[55] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[56]

Personal life

Marat and his teammate Harut Grigorian are often mistaken to be brothers, however both have confirmed that they are good friends but not related.[57][58]

Titles and accomplishments

Kickboxing record

More information Date, Result ...

See also


References

  1. Jay Furness (November 26, 2020). "'Always Dreaming': Marat Grigorian Is Proof That Perseverance Pays Off". ONE Championship.
  2. "Marat Grigorian : Glory Kickboxing". Glory. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  3. "Biography". maratgrigorian.com (in Dutch).
  4. Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Aittama, Zach (26 October 2023). "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: September 2022". Combat Press.
  6. "Athlete Rankings | ONE Championship". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  7. "It's Showtime Brussels Today". www.liverkick.com. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
  8. "It's Showtime Lyon Results: Play By Play and Commentary". www.headkicklegend.com. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
  9. Rian Scalia. "GLORY 2 Brussels Final Fight Card For This Saturday". Liverkick.com. Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  10. Rian Scalia (25 September 2019). "GLORY 2 Brussels Live Results". Liverkick.com.
  11. Rian Scalia (30 November 2016). "GLORY 7 Milan Fight Card For April 20". Liverkick.com.
  12. Rian Scalia (21 November 2016). "GLORY 7 Milan Live Results". Liverkick.com.
  13. "2014年12月20日TopKing 3香港站 Khayal Dzhaniev VS Niclas R Lasen [视频]". hula8.net. 27 December 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  14. "Grigorian s tri nokauta osvojio K-1 Grand Prix". croring.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  15. "Sittichai and Marat Grigorian head to GLORY 36 GERMANY for trilogy bout". Glory Kickboxing. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  16. "Kickboxer face-plants opponent with humongous KO". au.sports.yahoo.com. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  17. "(VIDEO) Treći uzastopni nokaut Marata Grigoriana". croring.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  18. "Change Of Opponent For Marat Grigorian On Glory 39!". hemmersgym.n. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  19. "Marat Grigorian Wins On TKO". hemmersgym.nl. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  20. Skytte, Mike (28 June 2018). "Sittichai vs. Marat Grigorian 4 tops GLORY 57 in China". mmasucka.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  21. Aittama, Zach. "Glory 57 Results: Sitthichai Edges Grigorian, Defends Lightweight Title". combatpress.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  22. "Girgorian Takes Down Sitthichai At GLORY 65". FIGHT SPORTS. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  23. "GLORY 69: Grigorian Too Much For Beztati". fightsports.tv. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  24. "Marat Grigorian Defends Against Unbeaten Gashi at GLORY 73". kickboxingz.com. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  25. "Grigorian KO's Gashi to retain GLORY belt". fightmag.com.au. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  26. Andrew Whitelaw (August 23, 2020). "ONE Championship signs Glory lightweight champion Marat Grigorian". asianmma.com.
  27. "Grigorian, Matsushima, Tonon, More Added To ONE: BIG BANG". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  28. "Grigorian Produces Thrilling Come-From-Behind KO Of Kondratev". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. 2020-12-05. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  29. van Dinter, Sean (24 August 2021). "BREAKING! Andy Souwer treft Marat Grigorian op 15 oktober". vechtsportinfo.nl. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  30. News (15 October 2021). "Andy Souwer retires after losing to Marat Grigorian". asianmma.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  31. Hernandez, Ernest Leo (19 October 2021). "ONE Championship: Marat Grigorian forecasts a victory over Chigniz Allazov". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  32. Atkin, Nick (22 January 2022). "ONE Championship: Marat Grigorian out of kick-boxing grand prix semi after positive Covid-19 test". scmp.com. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  33. Aima, Arunaditya (15 February 2022). "Superbon vs. Marat Grigorian – "A Rematch Four Years in the Making" Added to ONE X". essentiallysports.com. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  34. van Dinter, Sean (6 September 2022). "Eindelijk! Tayfun Ozcan en Marat Grigorian tegen elkaar de Kickboksring In". vechtsportinfo.nl. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  35. "Chingiz Allazov Injured – Tayfun Özcan Steps In". fightsports.tv. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  36. Strobel, Kevin (2 October 2022). "Anissa Meksen wins landslide decision, Marat Grigorian outguns Tayfun Ozcan in close fight". beyondkick.com. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  37. Pico, Borna. "Grigorian Versus Sitthichai Official For January 28". Beyond Kickboxing - The Home of Kickboxing. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  38. Emmerink, Ron (28 January 2024). "🎥 Marat Grigorian sloopt Sitthichai en steekt pak geld in zijn zak". Vechtsport info (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  39. Barry, Anthony (25 February 2024). "Superbon vs. Grigorian For Interim Title Set for Apr. 5". Beyond Kickboxing - The Home of Kickboxing. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  40. @MaratGrigorian (May 24, 2016). "Noo. We are good friends" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 September 2016 via Twitter.
  41. "GLORY 54: Teammates Harut and Marat Grigorian want to hold GLORY titles simultaneously". Glory Kickboxing. 24 May 2018. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  42. "K-1 WORLD GP 2015 ~ -70 kg First championship tournament ~". K1- World GP (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  43. "Dure soirée pour les Français au Top King World Series 2". fr.muaythaitv.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
  44. Jay Jauncey. "LiverKick - TopKing World Series Live Results". Archived from the original on 2014-11-18.
  45. "VICTORY : results and pictures". muaythaitv.com. Archived from the original on 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  46. "La Nuit du Kick Boxing à Liège (French language)". fr.muaythaitv.com. Retrieved 2011-05-15.

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