Marat Grigorian

Marat Grigorian
Grigoryan in 2018
Born Marat Grigorian
29 May 1991
Talin, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality Belgian
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9+12 in)
Weight 70 kg (150 lb; 11 st)
Division Lightweight
Middleweight
Reach 72.8 in (185 cm)
Style Kickboxing, Muay Thai
Fighting out of Antwerp, Belgium
Team Bulldog Gym (until 2015)
Hemmers Gym (2014–present)
Trainer Nick Hemmers
Years active 2007–present
Kickboxing record
Total 81
Wins 66
By knockout 34
Losses 13
Draws 1
No contests 1
Website maratgrigorian.com
Last updated on: 12 April 2014

Marat Grigorian (Armenian: Մարատ Գրիգորյան; born 29 May 1991) is an Armenian-born 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. Combat Press ranks him as the #2 lightweight and #4 pound-for-pound kickboxer in the world. As of October 12, 2023, he is ranked #2 in the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing rankings.

Background

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

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.

In 2011, Grigorian fought for the inaugural It's Showtime 73MAX world title, losing a close unanimous decision to Yohan Lidon. 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. He defeated Vogel via TKO due to low kicks in the second round.

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 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. 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.

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. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout. Grigorian faced Antonio Gomez at Glory 42: Paris on June 10, 2017. He won the fight by a second-round knockout.

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. Grigorian faced Mohamed Mezouari in the quarterfinals at Kunlun Fight 67 - World MAX 2017 Final 8 on November 12, 2017. 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. 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.

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. Sitthichai once again prevailed, winning the fight by split decision.

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.

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

ONE Championship

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

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. He won the fight by second-round technical knockout.

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. He withdrew from the bout after a positive COVID-19 test.

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

Grigorian was expected to face Tayfun Özcan at ONE on Prime Video 2 on September 30, 2022. 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. As both Superbon and Yusupov failed the pre-fight medical, Grigorian and Özcan were once again schedule to face each other on September 29. Grigorian won the fight by unanimous decision.

Grigorian challenged Chingiz Allazov for the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship in a trilogy bout at ONE Fight Night 13 on August 4, 2023. 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. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Grigorian is scheduled to face Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong at ONE 165 on January 28, 2024.

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.

Titles and accomplishments

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
66 Wins (34 (T)KO's), 13 Losses, 1 Draw, 1 No Contest
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2024-01-28 Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong ONE 165 Tokyo, Japan
2023-08-05 Loss Chingiz Allazov ONE Fight Night 13 Bangkok, Thailand Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
For the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship.
2022-10-01 Win Tayfun Ozcan ONE on Prime Video 2 Kallang, Singapore Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2022-03-25 Loss Superbon Banchamek ONE: X Kallang, Singapore Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
For the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship.
2021-10-15 Win Andy Souwer ONE Championship: First Strike Kallang, Singapore TKO (Leg Injury) 2 2:26
Kickboxing Featherweight Grand Prix Quarter Final
2020-12-04 Win Ivan Kondratiev ONE Championship: Big Bang Kallang, Singapore KO (Left hook to the body) 2 1:52
2019-12-07 Win Elvis Gashi Glory 73: Shenzhen Shenzhen, China KO (Punches) 5 2:03
Defends the Glory Lightweight Championship.
2019-10-12 Win Tyjani Beztati Glory 69: Düsseldorf Düsseldorf, Germany Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
Defends the Glory Lightweight Championship.
2019-05-17 Win Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Glory 65: Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
Wins the Glory Lightweight Championship.
2018-12-08 Win Christian Baya Glory 62: Rotterdam Rotterdam, Netherlands Decision (Split) 3 3:00
2018-08-25 Loss Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Glory 57: Shenzhen Shenzhen, China Decision (Split) 5 3:00
For the Glory Lightweight Championship.
2018-06-02 Win Liu Xu Glory 54: Birmingham Birmingham, England Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2018-02-04 Win Superbon Banchamek Kunlun Fight 69 - World MAX 2017, Final Guiyang, China KO (Punches) 1 0:29
Wins the Kunlun Fight World MAX Tournament Champion.
2018-02-04 Win Dzianis Zuev Kunlun Fight 69 - World MAX 2017, Semi Finals Guiyang, China Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2017-11-12 Win Mohamed Mezouari Kunlun Fight 67 - World MAX 2017 Final 8 Sanya, China Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Qualified to Kunlun Fight 2017 70kg World Max Tournament Final 4.
2017-08-27 Win Jomthong Chuwattana Kunlun Fight 65 - World MAX 2017 Final 16 Qingdao, China KO (Right Cross) 2 2:56
Qualified to Kunlun Fight 2017 70kg World Max Tournament Final 8.
2017-06-10 Win Antonio Gomez Glory 42: Paris Paris, France KO (Knee to the body) 2 2:02
2017-03-25 Win Anton Petrov Glory 39: Brussels Brussels, Belgium TKO 2 1:09
2016-12-10 Loss Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Glory 36: Oberhausen Oberhausen, Germany Decision (Split) 5 3:00
For the Glory Lightweight Championship.
2016-07-09 Win Mohamed El-Mir The Legend of Emei 10 Nanchong , China TKO (Referee Stoppage/Right High Kick) 1 1:50
2016-06-05 Win Steve Moxon The Legend of Emei 9 Chengdu, China TKO (Referee Stoppage) 1 2:40
2016-05-13 Win Djime Coulibaly Glory 30: Los Angeles Ontario, California KO (head kick) 1 1:56
2016-03-12 Loss Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Glory 28: Paris - Lightweight Contender Tournament, Final Paris, France Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
For the Glory Lightweight Contender Tournament.
2016-03-12 Win Anatoly Moiseev Glory 28: Paris - Lightweight Contender Tournament, Semi Finals Paris, France Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2015-12-19 Loss Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Kunlun Fight 35 - World MAX 2015 Final 8 Luoyang, China Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2015-07-04 Win Jordann Pikeur K-1 World GP 2015 -70kg Championship Tournament, Final Tokyo, Japan KO (punches) 1 1:24
Wins the K-1 -70kg Championship.
2015-07-04 Win Makihira Keita K-1 World GP 2015 -70kg Championship Tournament, Semi Finals Tokyo, Japan KO (left body hook) 2 2:00
2015-07-04 Win Yoichi Yamazaki K-1 World GP 2015 -70kg Championship Tournament, Quarter Finals Tokyo, Japan KO (Left High Kick) 2 0:51
2015-06-05 Loss Serhiy Adamchuk Glory 22: Lille - Lightweight Contender Tournament, Reserve Match Lille, France, Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2015-05-23 Win Nikos Gikas VFC 2 °Coskun promotions° Antwerp, Belgium, KO (Right hook) 1 0:30
Wins the WRSA -73kg World Championship.
2015-04-12 Loss Yodsanklai Fairtex Kunlun Fight 22 Changde, China Decision 3 3:00
2015-02-01 Win Fernando Calzetta Kunlun Fight 19 - Middleweight Tournament, Final Guangzhou, China TKO (Ref. stoppage) 1
Qualified to Kunlun fight 2015 70kg World MAX Tournament Final 16.
2015-02-01 Win Aikpracha Meenayothin Kunlun Fight 19 - Middleweight Tournament, Semi Finals Guangzhou, China KO (Right hook) 2
2014-12-20 Win Seyedisa Alamdarnezam Topking World Series 3 – 70 kg Tournament, Quarter Finals Hong Kong, China Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2014-11-15 Win Abraham Roqueñi Topking World Series 2 – 70 kg Tournament, Final 16 Paris, France Decision 3 3:00
2014-04-12 Loss Robin van Roosmalen Glory 15: Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey Decision (Split) 3 3:00
2013-12-14 Win Chingiz Allazov Victory Levallois-Perret, France Decision 3 3:00
2013-04-20 NC Chingiz Allazov Glory 7: Milan Milan, Italy NC (Allazov cut by illegal elbow) 1
2012-10-06 Win Alex Vogel Glory 2: Brussels Brussels, Belgium TKO (Right Low Kick) 2
2012-06-30 Win Aziz Kallah Music Hall & BFN Group present: It's Showtime 57 & 58 Brussels, Belgium Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2012-04-28 Win Kenneth van Eesvelde Rocky Gym Kickboxing Gala Maldegem, Belgium KO 1
2011-09-24 Win Yassin Baitar BFN Group & Music Hall presents: It's Showtime "Fast & Furious 70MAX" Brussels, Belgium Decision (Split) 3 3:00
2011-05-14 Loss Yohan Lidon It's Showtime 2011 Lyon Lyon, France Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
Fight was for inaugural It's Showtime 73MAX World title -73 kg.
2011-03-26 Win Severiano Rijssel BFN Group presents: It's Showtime Brussels Brussels, Belgium TKO (referee stoppage) 2 2:13
2011-02-05 Win Karim El Jouharte 30th Gala "Black Panthers Sint-Niklaas, Belgium Decision 3 3:00
2010-11-27 Win Mickael Lallemand La Nuit du Kick Boxing Liège, Belgium TKO (Referee Stoppage) 3
2010-02-06 Loss Karim Ghajji UKC France MAX, Semi Final Dijon, France Decision 3 3:00
2010-02-06 Win Hichem Chaïbi UKC France MAX, Quarter Final Dijon, France Decision 3 3:00
2009-11-21 Win Soufiane Aouragh It's Showtime 2009 Barneveld Barneveld, Netherlands TKO (Gave Up) 2
2009-10-24 Win Mohammed Medhar It's Showtime 2009 Lommel Lommel, Belgium TKO (Injury) 2
2009-05-16 Win Tarik Mokhtar It's Showtime 2009 Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision 3 3:00
2009-03-14 Win Tevfik Sucu War of the ring Sint-Job-in-'t-Goor, Belgium TKO (Injury) 4
2009-02-08 Win Marijn Geuens Fights at the Border presents: It's Showtime 2009 Antwerp, Belgium TKO (Referee Stoppage, 3 Knockdowns) 1
2008-11-29 Win Freddy van Duffelen It's Showtime 2008 Eindhoven Eindhoven, Netherlands TKO (Referee Stoppage) 1
2008-09-06 Win Daniel Corler It's Showtime 2008 Alkmaar Alkmaar, Netherlands Decision 5 3:00
2008-05-25 Win Leroy Kaestner Muay Thai Gala Hoofddorp, Netherlands TKO (Doctor stoppage)
2008-04-12 Loss Ludgens Saribekyan New Blood 8 Knesselare, Belgium TKO (Referee Stoppage) 2
2007-10-27 Win Halim Haryouli One Night in Bangkok Antwerp, Belgium Decision
2007-07-10 Win Yavuz Kayabasi Muaythai Gala in Reuver Reuver, Netherlands Decision
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also