Marat Grigorian (Մարատ Գրիգորյան; born 29 May 1991) is an Armenian-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.
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.
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.
2011
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.
2013
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.
2014
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.
2015
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.
2016
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.
2017
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.
