5 Burning Questions Ahead Of ONE Friday Fights 58: Superbon Vs. Grigorian II
ONE Friday Fights 58: Superbon vs. Grigorian II will serve up an extra special treat for fans in Asia primetime.
The weekly events at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium are always packed with action, but the lineup this Friday, April 5, will take things to the next level.
With a pair of World Title fights topping the bill and a slew of the promotion’s biggest names ready to throw down, there will be fireworks from start to finish in Bangkok, Thailand.
Here are five of the biggest questions from fans and pundits ahead of the mega-card at one of the world’s most iconic combat sports arenas.
#1 Which Marat Grigorian Will Show Up Against Superbon?
On his day, Marat Grigorian is one of the most destructive kickboxers of this generation. And in his third shot at ONE gold, he’ll hope to showcase his very best.
This Friday, the Armenian great will face his longtime rival Superbon Singha Mawynn for the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title, and with their score level at 1-1, this would be the best time for Grigorian to get ahead.
The Hemmers Gym product knocked out Superbon in under 30 seconds back in 2018 outside of ONE, but when they ran it back for the undisputed ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title in 2022, the slick Thai striker dominated throughout five rounds.
Grigorian admitted his second performance was way below par, and he’s determined to show what he’s capable of this time.
Coming into the match following a huge stoppage win over Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong, the 32-year-old has proven that he’s still at the height of his powers.
Still, he’ll need to deliver again if he wants to right the wrongs from his last encounter with Superbon because the division’s former king is also hungry to get the strap over his shoulder.
#2 Is Prajanchai The Undisputed Best Strawweight Striker On The Planet?
As the reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion, Prajanchai PK Saenchai is already among the best of the best, but he has the potential to rise even further in his next matchup.
The Thai superstar is set to challenge unbeaten Italian-Canadian Jonathan Di Bella for the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title.
Winning one belt in the world’s largest martial arts organization is an incredible feat. If Prajanchai can hold two simultaneously as a two-sport king, he’d join a small group of elite athletes who have achieved the same thing.
Of course, nothing will come easy against Di Bella, who is slick, fast, and more in sync with the rule set. Can the PK Saenchai representative overcome these factors to become the undisputed top dog at strawweight?
#3 Does Nong-O Have Any Gas Left In The Tank?
In a sport as unforgiving as Muay Thai, age can quickly catch up with you.
Despite some recent losses, 37-year-old Nong-O Hama doesn’t think he’s over the hill and wants to prove it when he faces “Left Meteorite” Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai – a man 12 years his junior.
This time last year, the Thai icon was still the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion and looked unstoppable after seven straight defenses and five consecutive knockouts.
Losing his belt to Jonathan “The General” Haggerty was the first setback, and then another loss to Nico “King of the North” Carrillo prompted some to wonder whether his time was up.
But Nong-O disagrees. He wants to silence the doubters by putting on a vintage performance against the concussive Kulabdam in Bangkok.
#4 Will Muangthai Be A Force At Flyweight?
Although “Elbow Zombie” Muangthai PK Saenchai has been one of the most consistently entertaining Muay Thai fighters in ONE, he hit a wall when it came to the upper echelon of the bantamweight ranks.
The PK Saenchai man has delivered some epic battles and memorable moments, but he fell just short of the World Title picture.
After gradually working his way down with a pair of catchweight bouts, “Elbow Zombie” is lined up to face Nakrob Fairtex in a flyweight encounter this week. While Muangthai could hang with the elite in the heavier weight class, this drop down could give him even more of an edge.
Will “Elbow Zombie” thrive in a weight class that is more suitable to his frame, or will he lose some of his explosiveness? That question will be answered in his all-Thai clash with the durable Nakrob.
#5 Can Zhang Peimian Recapture His Magic?
“Fighting Rooster” Zhang Peimian burst onto the scene with impressive back-to-back victories in 2022, before a razor-close loss to Di Bella in their battle for the strawweight kickboxing gold.
Zhang wanted to earn a second shot at the Italian-Canadian and appeared on track when he defeated Torepchi Dongak last March, but an upset split-decision loss to Rui Botelho derailed the Chinese prodigy’s momentum.
At just 20 years old, “Fighting Rooster” has plenty of time to get back on track, but he’d prefer to do it sooner rather than later.
Aliff Sor Dechapan won’t want to be a stepping stone for Zhang, however, and with a 4-0 ONE slate that includes three finishes, the Malaysian-Thai scrapper has all the tools needed to extend his rival’s losing streak in their kickboxing clash this week.
Will Zhang showcase some of his past magic, or can Aliff shut down the big puncher from Shengli Fight Club?
