Chingiz Allazov Withdraws From World Title Fight; Tayfun Ozcan To Challenge Superbon
The lineup for ONE on Prime Video 2: Xiong vs. Lee III at the Singapore Indoor Stadium has undergone some major changes.
Top-ranked contender Chingiz Allazov was scheduled to challenge ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon Singha Mawynn in the co-main event on Friday, September 30, but he was forced to withdraw due to injury.
In his place, #5-ranked contender Tayfun Ozcan will replace Allazov and challenge the Thai superstar for the coveted gold.
Ozcan’s original opponent, #2-ranked contender Marat Grigorian, will headline the lead card against #3-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender Jamal Yusupov in a kickboxing bout.
Superbon Defends His Belt Against Ozcan
Superbon has been unstoppable since joining ONE Championship, taking out three top-ranked contenders in Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong, Giorgio Petrosyan, and most recently, Grigorian.
Fans of the striking arts were clamoring to see him face Allazov, who won the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix earlier this year.
Ozcan, however, will be just as dangerous.
Before his ONE Championship debut, the Dutch-Turkish star was riding a 13-fight winning streak and hadn’t lost since 2017.
And even when he did drop a loss to Sitthichai in his first promotional appearance, it happened by split decision. In fact, many critics argued that he should’ve gotten the nod.
Four months later, Ozcan rebounded with a stellar performance against K-1 Champion Enriko Kehl, keeping himself afloat in the top-five rankings.
With his clean boxing and low kicks, “Turbine” confidently accepted this World Title fight on short notice and hopes to score a massive victory over Superbon – perhaps the best pound-for-pound kickboxer on the planet right now.
Marat Grigorian Now Faces Jamal Yusupov
Grigorian was scheduled to face Ozcan at ONE on Prime Video 2, but with the latter stepping up to the co-main event, the Dutch-Armenian superstar needed another opponent.
That opponent came in the form of Yusupov, and with both men known for hitting hard and often, their matchup could produce a Fight of the Night.
Out of Grigorian’s 65 wins, 34 have come by KO or TKO. That includes his memorable ONE debut, when he stopped Ivan Kondratev with a rib-splitting body shot.
Meanwhile, Yusupov enters this short-notice bout with a long list of achievements.
Not only is he a three-time Russian Kickboxing Champion, but he’s undefeated in ONE. Along the way, he’s beaten legendary striker Yodsanklai IWE, former Kickboxing World Grand Prix finalist Samy Sana, and Thai sensation “Smokin” Jo Nattawut.
Yusupov has also been slated to challenge ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee a few times in the past, but injuries kept derailing that contest.
However, a win over #2-ranked kickboxing contender Grigorian could see him challenge for a belt in a new sport.
