Marat Grigorian will face Kaito Ono at ONE SAMURAI 1 in Tokyo on April 29. This fight aims to settle their ongoing rivalry after their previous match was canceled due to Grigorian missing weight.
The talking is done. For Marat Grigorian and Kaito Ono, thereās only one thing left ā and it has nothing to do with words.
The former three-time Glory World Champion will go head-to-head with the Japanese star in a featherweight kickboxing showdown at ONE SAMURAI 1, which broadcasts live via pay-per-view from Tokyoās Ariake Arena on Wednesday, April 29.
For both men, their unfinished business has only sharpened the edge of what is to come.
Their original meeting, which was scheduled for ONE 172 at Japanās Saitama Super Arena in March 2025, never happened, as Grigorian missed the featherweight limit by 0.75 pounds during the official weigh-in and hydration tests just a day before showtime.
Kaito refused to step into the Circle despite being offered a partial purse compensation and a catchweight bout. What followed was a war of words, marked by heated exchanges and harsh language, which only hardened into something genuine.
Looking back at it all, the 34-year-old Armenian knockout artist has no regrets about a single word he said:
āI said what I felt I needed to say at that moment. For me, the warrior mentality means stepping up no matter what. But things are different now because weāre finally going to settle it in the ring. Words donāt matter anymore. Action does.ā
Both men have stayed busy in the months that followed.
Kaito steps into this clash riding a three-bout winning streak, most recently defeating the legendary Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong outside the worldās largest martial arts organization. He also vacated the RISE Middleweight Title and Shoot Boxing Welterweight Championship.
The Grigorian vs. Kaito fight will take place on April 29 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
The original fight was canceled because Marat Grigorian missed the featherweight limit by 0.75 pounds during the weigh-in.
Marat Grigorian is a former three-time Glory World Champion.
Fans can watch the ONE SAMURAI 1 event live via pay-per-view.
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Grigorian, meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back wins. Most recently, he put another rivalry to bed when he outpointed former three-time K-1 Champion Rukiya āDemolition Manā Anpo at ONE 173 in Tokyo last November.
Grigorianās return to āThe Land of the Rising Sunā also carries its own significance.
The Armenian has built himself into one of the most beloved foreign fighters that Japanese audiences have embraced, and the affection is mutual. The fact that he is competing against a hometown favorite changes nothing, too.
He said:
āItās the home of the sport. Iām happy to see it come back in a big way with this ONE SAMURAI 1 card. Japan is where legends are made, and being part of this event is something special.
āItās his home. Heāll have a lot of fans, but I donāt focus on that. The love and support I get in Japan is always incredible. Itās hard to describe it, but I canāt wait to experience that again.ā
The crowd in Tokyo will not be a problem. Neither, in Grigorianās mind, will the man standing across from him.
For all the noise surrounding this showdown, the Armenian has stayed locked on the only thing that has ever mattered to him in this match. Not the venue, not the audience, and not the talking. Only the moment the bell rings.
The former ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title challenger added:
āHeās younger and hungry, and he wants to prove himself. Thatās good, I respect that. But on April 29, weāll see the difference. I donāt need to talk too much. We just have to fight.
āIāll keep my prediction to myself. But I can tell you, he will feel what Iām bringing into this fight by the first round. This is [going to be] more than just a win. Fighting and winning in Japan ā thatās special.ā
Marat Grigorian has done his homework on Kaito Ono. He has watched the latest wins and studied the Japanese athleteās promotional debut loss to Mohammad Siasarani at ONE Friday Fights 109 in May 2025.
While most fighters in his position would lean hard on a defeat to score easy points in the build-up, the Hemmers Gym affiliate has gone in the opposite direction. He is keeping it respectful and keeping the focus where it belongs.
Grigorian said:
āIt wasnāt his best performance. That was clear in that fight. But I donāt focus too much on that. I focus on myself, and Iām a very different kind of fighter than what heās used to. Besides, with my experience, I donāt look at just one moment. I study patterns.
āOnce I find the openings, I know the fight will go my way. Against Rukiya Anpo, I stayed patient and waited for the right moments before breaking him down. Kaito is also tall, but heās less powerful. Iāll adapt and take control when the time is right.ā
A statement performance over Kaito would do more than just settle the score and earn him his 70th career win. It would solidify Grigorianās place at the front of the queue for the one belt that has eluded him in his legendary career.
He has competed for the divisionās ultimate prize twice, but unfortunately, came up short both times. The hunger to book another crack at the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship, currently in Superbonās possession, has never been stronger.
The Armenian veteran shared:
āIf I dominate, thereās only one fight that makes sense: Superbon. No more questions. Iām in my prime right now. This is the moment where everything comes together.
āI believe I deserve that shot. Iāve fought everyone at the top. As long as I stay healthy and everything is going well, Iāll keep pushing myself to the limit.ā