Eight months after his fight with Kaito Ono got cancelled due to weight miss controversy, Marat Grigorian made a return in Tokyo with an emphatic victory over former K-1 World Champion Rukiya Anpo. After dropping the first round to the Japanese fighter, Grigorian took over the fight scoring with both heavy punches to the head and body.
He gave a follow-up interview with Beyond Kickboxing's Woradon Yomjinda.
I'm here with Marat Grigorian, who just defeated Rukiya Anpo. How're you feeling?
I'm feeling good. I just won. That's an important thing for me. Yesterday, I thought the fight would get cancelled again. I was feeling bad, but I am happy I fought today.
So I want to focus on the fight today first. Anpo came out very strong in the 1st round, but then you came back strong. How did you turn the tide of the fight?
Sometimes I need a push from my coach. And of course, I haven't fought in 11 months, almost 1 year. That made a lot of the difference. I am used to fighting often. Also, he was much heavier than me. But for me that doesn't matter. I'm still the stronger one. I punched harder than him. He was heavier than me but I don't care.
He was heavier than you. That's very important. Last time, we met after your fight with Kaito got cancelled. He didn't accept because you were over by…
300 grams, yes. And now he [Anpo] was 3 kg over.
How do feel about the fans' reaction to the fight? Because I feel that the Japanese fans were furious with you last time for missing weight. But this time, after Anpo rehydrated he was over by 3 kg?
3 kg, A lot. He was over by a lot. You know as a professional fighter I was really feeling bad about what happened last time. It was 300 g for me. I told you guys that next time I will do everything in my power to make this right. And I was on weight. And some Japanese guy, Anpo, didn't make weight.
[Laugh] Some Japanese guy? You just beat a superstar!
Anpo didn't make weight, but I didn't care. I need to show the real fighting spirit. And Japanese people know from the strong spirit.
Yes, you have a lot of fans.
That's why I want to show them. That's what I did.
Finally, What's next? Now that you got a huge win over a Japanese superstar.
Next one, the main goal is the title belt. Of course I want to fight as soon as possible. That's my second goal.
Maybe if Superbon wins, you can fight him in Thailand
No, I don't want to fight him in Thailand! I want to fight him in Japan!
Alright, Superbon, Noiri, whoever wins, you want him in Japan. Next Year in April?
April yes? That's good news!
Congratulations again Marat!
