Marat Grigorian “feels great” to beat rival Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong again at ONE 165

Marat Grigorian left no stone unturned at ONE 165 this past weekend. He claimed what he deems the most satisfying victory in his long-standing rivalry with Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong.

Both men faced each other for the sixth time at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, and Grigorian did not disappoint.

A beloved figure among Japanese fans, he lived up to the hype and more. He ensured that the audience in attendance received their money’s worth.

The decisive moment came in the third round of their featherweight kickboxing contest. There, a thunderous left hook from Grigorian found its mark, sending his Thai rival to the canvas and sealing the victory in emphatic fashion.

To add a cherry on top of his impressive performance, ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong bestowed upon Grigorian a $50,000 bonus.

“It feels great. It feels amazing. Whenever I come to Japan, good things happen to me. So, I’m glad I won a big fight against Sitthichai. I won a big bonus. But the important thing is that I won the fight,” he said.

For the Hemmers Gym representative, this triumph held a special place in his heart.

“Money comes and goes, but legacy, legacy stays forever,” he said.

“You know, this fight was very important for me. It was for the legacy – number six. We’ve come a long way [from where we started]. We’ve already been fighting for eight years at the top and we are still here trying to do our best.”

With Sitthichai holding a 4-2 lead in their head-to-head series, Grigorian expressed a willingness to face him once again.

“I’m happy that we [fought] again. But who knows, maybe [match number] seven will come also,” he said.

Marat Grigorian welcomes all comers

Now back in the winner’s circle, Marat Grigorian has a myriad of options for his future matchups.

A potential rematch against either ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Chingiz Allazov or former divisional king Superbon Singha Mawynn looms on the horizon.

Despite the uncertainty of his next opponent, he remains resolute and ready to face whoever ONE Championship puts in front of him.

“I don’t care who I’m fighting. I’m just hoping that I’ll fight as soon as possible. For me, it doesn’t matter who I’m fighting or facing. Just let me know the time and I’ll be ready,” he said.