Despite now approaching his mid-30s, Marat Grigorian still looks in good form, having only recently taken losses to Chingiz Allazov and Superbon. His latest fight, a rubber match against Superbon for the interim ONE Featherweight Kickboxing title, was a high-paced battle early on and saw both men tire out in the latter part of the fight. While the decision was given to Superbon, it was a close affair and proved that the old guard of the division was still going strong.
On the other side, boasting a 25-4 record, 25-year-old prospect Abdelali Zahidi has been a prominent presence in the amateur Muay Thai scene for the past several years, peaking in the amateurs after winning the U23 IFMA World Championships at 71 kg. The Moroccan talent went viral on social media last month after his stunning head-kick knockout against Tun Min Aung in his ONE Championship debut.
While he has great potential, this matchup is a steep step up, reminiscent of Mohammed Boutasaa facing Sittichai early in his ONE career. It’s a double-edged sword—an exciting opportunity for Zahidi, but his hittable defense in his last fight raises concerns against one of the sport’s most relentless pressure fighters. Still, with Chingiz Allazov absent and Boutasaa recently departing, Zahidi brings fresh energy to a division in need of new talent.
After Youssef Challouki's withdrawal from his fight with Masaaki Noiri, many fans expected Noiri to face Grigorian. Instead, both have been matched with emerging challengers, possibly setting the stage for a high-profile clash in 2025.
