One of the most anticipated matchups on the ONE 172 card—between Armenian powerhouse Marat Grigorian and Japan’s top shootboxing star, Kaito Ono—was officially canceled just hours before fight night in Tokyo. Now that the dust has settled on an electrifying evening at the Saitama Super Arena, fans are left wondering: what exactly happened?
The bout was set to be a clash of elite strikers. Grigorian, a three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion training out of Hemmers Gym, arrived in Tokyo with an impressive record of 68 wins, 14 losses, and 40 knockouts. At 33 years old, he was determined to make a statement in what he considers his “second home.” His opponent, 27-year-old Kaito Ono of Team F.O.D., stood as Japan’s most prominent shootboxer, boasting 59 victories, 8 defeats, and 26 knockouts.
However, drama unfolded during the official weigh-ins. ONE Championship’s strict hydration protocol—designed to ensure fighter safety—requires athletes to both make weight and pass a hydration test. Grigorian initially struggled to provide a hydration sample but returned within 45 minutes, successfully hydrated. However, he tipped the scales at just 0.75 lbs (340 grams) over the limit.
His team immediately proposed a catchweight bout—a common solution within ONE Championship when fighters miss weight, even by larger margins. However, Kaito and his camp refused to proceed, leading to the cancellation of one of the most anticipated European vs. Japanese showdowns of the season.
Fans were understandably disappointed. In pre-fight interviews, Grigorian had promised fireworks:
“I don’t want to waste the fans’ time. It would be KO or nothing,” he told reporters before the bout.
At the post-event press conference, ONE Championship President Chatri Sityodtong shared his thoughts on the situation:
“If a fighter wants to fight—he fights. And if he’s scared—he looks for reasons not to. Kaito was the biggest underdog on this card against Grigorian, and you saw what he did. He had a chance to step into the ring, but he refused. I would understand if the weight difference had been significant—but it was less than half a pound. We still paid him in full, but in my opinion, he didn’t deserve it. I think he should be fighting in a smaller promotion.”
While this particular matchup didn’t take place inside the Circle, the rest of the card delivered thrilling action. In the main event, Thailand’s Rodtang Jitmuangnon scored a brutal first-round knockout over Japanese superstar Takeru Segawa. A devastating left hook ended the flyweight kickboxing bout at 1:20 of Round 1, after Rodtang had already dropped Takeru earlier in the round.
In the co-main event, Masaaki Noiri defeated Tawanchai PK Saenchai via TKO (referee stoppage due to combination punching) at 1:55 of Round 3, claiming the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title and solidifying his place among the sport’s elite strikers.
As for Marat Grigorian, who was originally considered for a title bout against Tawanchai, fans can rest assured: he’s not going anywhere. Stay tuned for the next chapter of Grigorian’s journey in ONE Championship.
Results ONE 172:
