Marat Grigorian was in Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on Saturday, October 17, to put on another epic performance, but his night took an unexpected turn when his opponent was disqualified the day before his fight. However, being there gave him a close look at the man he will face in the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament Final: Masaaki Noiri.
The former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion booked his spot with a split-decision win over Iranian dynamo Mohammad Siasarani at ONE SAMURAI 4.
The Armenian, a three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion, was due to meet “The Handsome White Dragon” Luo Chao on the other side of the bracket. Luo missed weight at the official weigh-ins the day before, and Grigorian advanced without a fight.
A place in the final is a prize, but it is not the one a warrior like him wants to be handed. The 35-year-old has always met opponents head-on, and he faced the situation the same way.
Grigorian told onefc.com:
“I was angry, frustrated, and deeply disappointed. I worked incredibly hard throughout my training camp, made weight, and came to Tokyo fully prepared to put on a great fight for the Japanese fans.
“They deserve fighters who give everything – not only inside the ring, but also in their preparation. I came to Tokyo to fight and to put on a show. I didn’t come just to advance to the final because someone else failed to do his job.”
With his semifinal off the stacked card, the Hemmers Gym standout turned his eyes to the bout that did go ahead. Noiri went after the legs early, threw heavy combinations, and stood up to the 24-year-old Iranian’s best work over three hard rounds.
Grigorian followed it closely as the man who would meet the winner, and he even stepped into the Circle afterward to share a moment with the former two-division K-1 Champion. His read on the battle covered both men.
He said:
“Noiri put on a strong performance, but we also have to give credit to Siasarani. He came in strong, showed a lot of heart, and landed some very clean, powerful shots. There were moments when Noiri was clearly hurt, but Siasarani took some heavy shots, too.
“But I do believe Noiri deserved the victory. He pushed the pace, applied pressure, and tried to make the fight happen. Siasarani had some good moments, but I felt he was clinching and holding too much, which interrupted the action and prevented Noiri from fighting his fight.”
Grigorian Locks In For The Final
Marat Grigorian has no interest in lingering on the drama. The 35-year-old arrives at the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament Final on four straight wins, the latest of which earned him a spot in the last four.
At The Inner Circle 25 in August, he became the first fighter to beat Mamuka Usubyan in ONE, ending the Russian’s three-year winning streak with a unanimous decision. That body of work is the foundation he leans on after ONE SAMURAI 4, and it has shaped how he has processed fight week.
Grigorian said:
“Sometimes, things don’t go the way you planned. As a professional athlete, you have to accept that and move forward. However, the most important thing is that I’m in the final now.
“All the hard work I’ve put in wasn’t for nothing. It has made me stronger, sharper, and even more motivated. My focus is on the final now. I’m ready, I’m hungry, and I have something to prove.”
A guaranteed shot at ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon awaits the victor of the tournament, and Noiri is all that stands between Grigorian and it. The Armenian knows the Thai star well from three previous meetings, and the final, set for a future ONE SAMURAI event, could give him a fourth.
With the matchup locked in, the Armenian knockout artist had one more thing to say about the man he will meet.
He concluded:
“This is a match the fans have been waiting for a long time. Two experienced fighters, two different journeys, and now we finally meet in the tournament final.
“I hope he comes in at his absolute best, because that’s exactly what I’m bringing into that ring.”
