Marat Grigorian has heard enough bullshit from Rukiya Anpo during the press conference confrontation, and now he’s ready to deliver a brutal reality check within the Circle.
The Armenian will take on the former three-time K-1 champion in featherweight kickboxing action AN 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Tension between the fighters reached a boiling point during the press conference in September.
There Anpo dismissed Grigorian as predictable and one-dimensional. The Hemmers Gym product kept his composure during the heated argument, but the disrespect has been burning in him ever since.
Grigorian plans to make the promotional newcomer pay dearly for his nonsense. The 34-year-old has been dealing with the best strikers in the world for almost two decades, even challenging for ONE Championship gold twice, while recording victories over legendary names such as Superbon and Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong.
The Armenian believes that Anpo is only masking his fear behind bold claims. His experience navigating high-pressure situations against elite competition gives him confidence that the Japanese fighter’s bravado will crumble when the door closes. The 29-year-old promotional newcomer will find out who exactly is opposite him.
“He’s talked a lot, hasn’t he? He’s delusional. He thinks he can just come, beat me up and finish me off like I’m nothing. Everyone knows I’m way better than he thinks I am,” he said.
“When people talk [badly] about me, I’ll make them pay. As the days get shorter, he will understand who he is dealing with. I will bring hell, and he will feel the pain.”
Marat Grigorian refuses to let the fight reach the judges’ scorecards
Marat Grigorian made it clear he is not interested in going the distance in this high-stakes featherweight kickboxing affair. The Antwerp-based warrior has recorded 36 knockouts from 68 career victories during his decorated career. He wants violence against Anpo. And he promises to impose a punishment that will make the Japanese fighter regret every word he said.
His training camp revolved around Anpo’s pace while maintaining the power and precision that took him to multiple World Championships. Nick Hemmers, founder and head coach of Hemmers Gym in Breda, Netherlands, made sure his star student didn’t underestimate what the promotional newcomer brings to the table.
Grigorian has extensively dissected Anpo’s footage and expects the former K-1 stallion to use movement and speed initially before potentially fighting on the back foot as the pressure builds. He prepared himself for scenarios where the Japanese fighter tries to frustrate him with constant lateral movements.
Beyond the personal animosity lies an even greater price. Reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon takes on interim titleholder Masaaki Noiri in the main event unification bout. Grigorian wants the winner of that match, and after failing to achieve his world title dreams twice, the Dutch kickboxing stylist believes the third time will be the charm.
“I think it’s just his way of hiding his fear – the fear that he knows what awaits him in Tokyo,” Grigorian said.
“I’m going through his chin with my output. I just really want to beat him up. I just want to feel his chin on my knuckles.”
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