‘Dominant, Controlled, And Decisive’ – Marat Grigorian Recaps His Quick Demolition Of Kaito At ONE SAMURAI 1
When the bright lights shined at ONE SAMURAI 1, three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion Marat Grigorian needed less than two minutes to remind the entire division exactly who he is.
The 34-year-old Armenian powerhouse flattened Japanese star Kaito Ono at the 1:51 mark of their featherweight kickboxing battle inside Tokyo’s Ariake Arena last Wednesday, April 29.
A pair of hooks rocked Kaito, a former RISE Middleweight Champion and SHOOT BOXING Welterweight Champion. Then, a right hand-left hook combination set the trap. And just when the 28-year-old loaded up to counter, Grigorian cracked him with the overhand right that left the Japanese dynamo flat on the canvas.
For the Armenian slugger, who had spent over a year waiting for this moment, the finish was the perfect culmination of every minute he had poured into his training camp at Hemmers Gym in Breda, Netherlands.
Grigorian told onefc.com:
“When that overhand right landed, and he went down, it was confirmation of all my hard work. Everything I saw in camp played out exactly how I had envisioned it would be.
“I stayed calm. There were no emotions involved. It was just me completing the job that I came to do.”
The composure that defined Grigorian’s highlight-reel stoppage victory stood in stark contrast to the heat that had defined the buildup.
This rivalry had been simmering since they were booked to face each other at ONE 172 in March 2025. Unfortunately, the Armenian missed the featherweight limit by 0.75 pounds, and Kaito refused to fight him despite being offered a catchweight bout and partial purse compensation.
The animosity never faded. Neither did the trash talk. So, by the time both men finally touched gloves on April 29, the only question left was who would have the final word.
Grigorian made sure it was him:
“This was the perfect way to put the rivalry to bed. That was the right ending. There was a lot of talk, a lot of noise leading up to ONE SAMURAI 1. But in the ring, I shut everything down. It was fast, clean, and I left no doubt about the win.”
A 70th career win via first-round knockout and another shot at the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title is more than enough for most fighters to walk away completely satisfied. But the standard Grigorian holds himself to runs even higher.
The Armenian maestro has always demanded nothing less than excellence from himself. Even as he reflected on his fastest knockout performance in ONE Championship, his mind was already searching for the small details that could have made his victory even sweeter.
Grigorian added:
“I’ve always been a perfectionist, so I would say there’s always something that I could have done better.
“Maybe I could’ve been even sharper from the start, maybe more aggressive or precise. But the win was very close to how I pictured it – dominant, controlled, and decisive.”
Grigorian’s Eyes Are On Redemption
The demolition of Kaito Ono was about more than settling a rivalry. It was about earning his way back to the very top of the most stacked division across all of combat sports.
Marat Grigorian will get his third crack at reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon when he is ready to defend his crown.
Their two previous encounters both went the distance, but the Armenian intends to make sure their next meeting on the global stage ends with him putting his longtime rival to sleep:
“I’m more complete now. Smarter, calmer, but still dangerous. I’ve learned from every fight, especially the ones against him.
“There will be a different version of me in this next fight. I want to control, dominate, and finish him. I don’t want to leave it to the judges this time. I want it in my hands.”
While Grigorian was thrilled to be awarded the next ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title shot following his victory, he made sure to soak in the magnitude of ONE SAMURAI 1. After all, it was a historic night, and one that he will never forget.
The inaugural edition of ONE Championship’s new Japanese blockbuster event series was stacked from top to bottom – there were 15 battles across MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing, including four World Title bouts. Plus, a capacity crowd at the Ariake Arena added to the energetic vibe.
For a three-time World Champion who has competed on some of the biggest stages across his career, the roar inside the building stood out as something genuinely special:
“The atmosphere was on another level. I felt it from the time I arrived and when I was backstage. It was an incredible event. It was high energy all night long. And once I heard that crowd, it gave me chills.
“Japan has such a deep fight culture. It means a lot to be part of this card and to feel that respect from the fans, that was something special.”
