“This is what makes me dangerous”: Top kickboxer Marat Grigorian speaks out before fight
Marat Grigorian doesn’t speak about fighting the way most kickboxers do. For him, combat isn’t just combinations, timing or scoring points. Days before his next appearance at ONE 172, the former GLORY champion openly described his fascination with war, discipline and survival — subjects that shape the way he approaches every fight.
It sounds intense when he says it out loud. Then you watch him fight and it suddenly makes perfect sense.
Grigorian draws inspiration from war history
Marat Grigorian has always carried himself differently from many elite strikers.
Quiet outside the ring. Ruthless once the bell rings.
In recent interviews, Grigorian explained that he studies war films and military history because he connects deeply with the mindset behind them. Not violence itself, but discipline under pressure. Staying composed while everything around you becomes chaotic.
That mentality shows up constantly in his fights.
He doesn’t rush recklessly. He stalks. He pressures opponents round after round until mistakes appear. Watching him work pads during open training sessions, you notice how calm he stays between combinations. No wasted movement. Barely any talking in the gym either.
Just repetition and focus.
Pressure has always been his biggest weapon
Inside the ring, Grigorian fights like someone trying to break opponents mentally before physically.
That’s why so many fighters struggle once he starts cutting off the ring. His body shots drain confidence quickly, and his timing becomes more dangerous the longer exchanges continue.
According to the latest ONE Championship athlete rankings, Grigorian remains one of the elite names in lightweight kickboxing despite recent setbacks. Fighters still talk about his pressure style with genuine respect.
And sometimes frustration.
FSI247 recently covered the tension Grigorian created inside the division, especially among contenders reluctant to exchange with him for long periods.
Because once he finds rhythm, he becomes exhausting to deal with.
Missed opportunities still bother him
The road hasn’t been smooth lately though.
One of Grigorian’s recent fights collapsed over a small issue involving weight management, creating backlash online and frustration inside his camp. At this level, even minor mistakes can derail months of preparation.
People close to the fighter say that situation genuinely irritated him.
Not publicly. Grigorian rarely loses composure in interviews. But training intensity reportedly increased afterward, especially during conditioning sessions in the final weeks before camp ended.
FSI247 also reported on the controversial cancellation surrounding Grigorian’s previous fight, which sparked debate among fans expecting his return.
ONE 172 puts him back under the spotlight
Now the focus shifts completely toward ONE 172.
Grigorian enters the event carrying pressure, expectations and the kind of dangerous reputation that never fully disappears in kickboxing. Opponents know what’s coming. The hard part is surviving it once the pace increases.
His comments about war and mental toughness may sound extreme to outsiders, but inside combat sports, fighters often recognize that mentality immediately.
Especially the ones who’ve stood across from him before.
As noted by Beyond Kick’s lightweight rankings, Grigorian still sits among the most feared strikers in the division.
Not because he talks the loudest.
Because he fights like he means every second of it.
Ron
Ron Emmerink is founder of FSI247.com and former founder of Vechtsport Info, widely recognized for covering kickboxing, MMA, and combat sports. With nearly 20 years of experience, he built a reputation for objective journalism, expert analysis, and credible reporting, contributing to major Dutch media while authoring a respected book on kickboxing history.
