"Power cannot beat me" - Superbon defends ONE featherweight title against Marat Grigorian with body attacks and control

ONE featherweight world champion Superbon [Photo Credit: ONE Championship]
ONE featherweight world champion Superbon [Photo Credit: ONE Championship]

Superbon came into his ONE X fight with Marat Grigorian with a massive amount of pressure. He was looking to defend his title while also trying to avenge a 30-second knockout loss to his Armenian-born challenger.

The champion defended his title with authority, landing an arsenal of teep kicks, knees and roundhouse kicks to the body. He outpaced and outlanded the challenger over the full five rounds. It was a dominant and impressive showing.

Happy with himself, the Thai fighter said in the post-fight interview:

"I am so proud of myself. I tell the world I am the real number one. After I lose to him, he's got the power, I moved [away] from the power. Power cannot beat me right now."

For his next match, he will be meeting a friend of his, Chingiz Allazov, who won the ONE Featherweight Grand Prix earlier in the evening. To Allazov, he said:

"He is my friend... I will beat him."

Superbon wins in five-round kickboxing masterclass

In the first two rounds, the 31-year-old was able to land better and control the championship fight. While he connected with thunderous kicks to the body, the real weapon in the early rounds was the artillery of teep kicks he was lobbing at his opponent. A teep to the chest knocked Grigorian off his feet in the second round.

Marat Grigorian pushed forward, but the champion interrupted the combinations thrown by his opponent. Early in round three, the Armenian-born fighter pressured Superbon and focused on power-punch combinations. However, the Thai star was still landing kicks to his rival's body, and visible redness began to show on Grigorian's mid-section.

At the start of round four, Grigorian charged forward with aggression looking to land with power, while Superbon mixed kicks and knees to keep him largely at bay. The step-through knee became the champion's counter to the challenger's pressure. From range, he landed a volley of teep kicks to the body.

In round five, Grigorian knew that only a knockout would win him the title at ONE Championship's 10-year anniversary show. He tried to walk down the champion, but Superbon once again countered with knees to the body. Undeterred, Grigorian marched forward, but the skillful Thai was still able to outland him and control the fight.

In a kickboxing masterclass, the champion successfully defended his title at ONE X and avenged his loss. He won via unanimous decision.

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