‘I’m Actually Quite A Chill Guy’ – Behind Marat Grigorian’s Fearsome Mask Lies A Softer Soul
Marat Grigorian wears his war face like a second skin. Underneath it, there is a man who still laughs at a good joke.
That menacing stare will look to send shivers down the spine of “The Handsome White Dragon” Luo Chao, whom the three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion faces in a semifinal clash of the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament at ONE SAMURAI 4.
Before he locks back into fight mode on ONE Championship’s blockbuster return to Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on Saturday, October 17, here is a side of the Armenian worth meeting – one that has very little to do with the mean mug that has become his trademark.
Intimidating But Misinterpreted
Grigorian has never shied away from embracing the fearsome reputation that precedes him into every fight.
What the 35-year-old struggles to explain, though, is where that intense look came from in the first place, and he knows full well the fear it tends to provoke in strangers.
The Armenian said:
“I don’t know why I have this look all the time, but I guess it’s just the way I look. I want to give this [impression] that I’m a strong guy. And, plus, I’m a fighter. I’m a man who has been through so much. There have never been easy days from day one.
“But what can I say? A lot of people think like that about me. They are scared, and yes, I’m always very serious-looking or intimidating. But I’m also a guy who can laugh, do crazy things, and enjoy a joke. I just don’t do that with everyone.”
That perception did not form in a vacuum, either. Grigorian grew up having to relocate more than once in search of better circumstances, and life threw him in at the deep end early.
The years that followed left little room for anything soft, shaping the world-class fighter and multi-time World Champion he would eventually become. For him, the face he carries and the fighter he has become are two sides of the same coin.
He said:
“I carry this face and this confidence because I’m always fighting for something. It matches my fighting style. When I’m in the ring, I’m there for a fight. So my mood, my face, and my aura change. I’m in war mode. So I need to get ready mentally and physically.
“So that explains my expression. I’m really serious. I’m more serious when a fight is nearby, or I have something big I need to accomplish. I just cannot be laughing a lot before my fight. I need to prepare my mood in my head. And in my expression, it also always shows.”
Grigorian’s Lighter Side
That same intensity, however, does not follow him into every corner of his day. The man who looks ready to go to war on fight night actually starts most mornings with a far gentler routine than people might expect.
Grigorian’s days begin with hydration, a splash of water on his face, and a quiet word with himself in the mirror before the world sees any version of him. That same calm carries through to the moments he sets aside for his faith as well.
He said:
“When I look at my reflection every morning, I just tell myself, ‘Who is that ugly guy?’ Jokes aside, the angry face is actually already there. But I do smile. I do relax a little bit. I always tell myself, ‘This is gonna be a good day.’ I fill myself with positivity.
“Otherwise, when I’m at church, I typically have a calm expression. It’s a peaceful day in my mind and in my soul. I feel peace in myself. Maybe my face may look mean, but the important thing is what I’m feeling inside.”
That same intimidating look – mean as it may be – has apparently not scared everyone off.
If anything, it seems to have an entire fan club of admirers sliding into his DMs rather than running the other way, proof that his reputation plays just as well off the fight poster as it does on it.
Grigorian chuckled and said:
“I’m not gonna lie, yes. I receive a lot of messages like that, but I don’t really open them or interact with them. It’s just funny to look at it.
“These are also some of the moments when I start to laugh…especially when there is a funny message. But really, I don’t waste my time with any of this.”
Righting The Impression
A lighter side clearly exists beneath the surface, one Grigorian genuinely hopes fans eventually come to know just as well as the fighting persona they see on the global stage of martial arts.
It is not the first time someone close to him has pointed that out, either, and the feedback has not always been subtle.
The 35-year-old continued:
“Many people have always told me about my look. Even my coach, Nick Hemmers, has always told me, ‘You’re too angry all the time; you need to smile a little.’ But I always say, ‘What can I do?’ I think this is a [trait] that defines me – the Marat Grigorian I want people to know.
“But, yeah, of course, when I’m not fighting, I want people to know that this guy who is always aggressive in the ring can be a really gentle and nice person outside of it too. But really, I just can’t be smiling all the time.”
Fans hoping to catch that gentler version any time soon will likely have to wait a little longer. With his semifinal clash against Luo now closing in, the Hemmers Gym athlete has already slipped back into full battle mode.
By his own admission, however, there will be a window for the smile to appear once business is sorted at ONE SAMURAI 4, albeit not for long.
He concluded:
“After every victory, for sure, I do smile. I’m happy. I need to have that moment where I cool down in my head. But after that, especially if I win this semifinal, I need to go back to work, you know. I want to win this tournament very badly.
“So, the smile that I want fans to see will have to be switched to my mean look again. While I want people to remember that I’m actually quite a chill guy – especially when I’m done with this fight – it’s not just the right time to be a nice guy again.”
