After an explosive September for ONE Championship’s mixed martial artists, The Home Of Martial Arts now turns their focus to the kickboxers.
Number one-ranked featherweight kickboxer Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan - considered by many as the sport’s greatest - takes on #2-ranked Superbon for the inaugural ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title in the main event of ONE: FIRST STRIKE set for Friday, October 15.
“I am truly thrilled for this match. I can’t wait for the opportunity to fight for another World Title, and I can’t wait for fight day to come,” Petrosyan told ONEFC.com.
But it’s not only the main event that will satisfy the cravings of kickboxing fans all over the world.
Also on the card is the quarterfinals of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, including the clash of two World Champions in Andy “Souwer Power” Souwer and #3-ranked featherweight contender Marat Grigorian.
Thai kickboxing star Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong also returns to his sport of choice as he takes on #5-ranked Tayfun “Turbine” Ozcan.
A couple of second timers are also looking to strike gold, as 2019 tournament’s runner up in Samy “AK47” Sana takes on Chingiz “Chinga” Allazov while Enriko “The Hurricane” Kehl faces Davit Kiria.
The winner of the tournament will certainly catapult themselves to the top of the loaded weight class, where a clash with the winner of the main event between Petrosyan and Superbon could be on the horizon.
For Petrosyan, who won the 2019 ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, the tournament just goes to show how talented his weight class is. And while he’d like to spend time analyzing each match, he’ll have to watch until after the fact since his main focus is on Superbon.
“It is an extremely tough tournament. I know all the fighters involved. Right now, honestly, I cannot predict who is going to win, but, for sure, the best will win at the end,” he said.
“ONE has signed all the best athletes in the 70-kilogram division. This is something that ignites me. But right now, I am only thinking about my next opponent. I am thinking about the World Title and about delivering a great performance.”
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