ONE: FIRST STRIKE Athlete Interviews + Quotes

Giorgio Petrosyan, Superbon, Marat Grigorian, Andy Souwer

ONE Championship™ (ONE) athletes competing on the upcoming ONE: FIRST STRIKE occasion just lately participated in offline interview classes for the media. ONE Featherweight World Grand Prix Champion and present #1-ranked featherweight kickboxer Giorgio Petrosyan, #2-ranked featherweight kickboxer Superbon, #3-ranked featherweight kickboxer Marat Grigorian, and legend Andy Souwer all answered questions concerning their upcoming bouts.

Hear from the athletes earlier than they step contained in the Circle this Friday night time, 15 October to do battle.

Giorgio Petrosyan:

On what he can count on from Superbon forward of the battle:
I do know him fairly nicely, [I have] for a very long time. I’ve seen all his matches and I’ve seen his final match in ONE Championship in opposition to Sitthichai [Sitsongpeenong]. In fact, he’s a brilliant athlete, very expert with nice strategies. He’s tremendous good along with his legs, however I noticed a couple of holes in his sport [and] I feel my sport plan will work on him contained in the ring. We’ll see that on match day.

On his confidence degree in defeating Superbon:
Truthfully, I don’t care lots about what Superbon has to say. A kickboxing match shouldn’t be all about knees, there are loads of issues that you are able to do contained in the ring. I truthfully don’t focus an excessive amount of on his phrases and my profession speaks for [itself]. We’ll see contained in the ring who’s telling the reality.

On his future profession plans:
Truthfully, I don’t prefer to make any long-term plans at the moment of my profession as a result of, in combating sports activities, you by no means know. I want to concentrate on one match at a time. I stay within the current and I’m 100% centered on my subsequent bout each time. I don’t make long-term plans however as quickly as I’m mentally and bodily prepared, I’ll battle on daily basis making an attempt to do my finest on daily basis, not pondering an excessive amount of about my future. I can’t predict what number of years I’ll be combating, however what I can do is to attempt to concentrate on the current and to provide my finest in each bout that you simply see, to any extent further in my profession.

Superbon:

On how he can win this battle:
I’m fairly assured that I can win this battle, you recognize. For instance, I [have studied] his earlier fights. I can say that I’ve a [great] sport plan to win over him on this battle and I see loads of weaknesses that no one sees. I really feel that Petrosyan retains persevering with with the identical sport, the identical as what he’s been doing since 2013. Till now he nonetheless retains doing the identical [thing] however I’ve extra pace, I’ve a greater sport plan that makes me so assured to win over him on this battle.

On his coaching camp:
Each time that I prepare earlier than I compete, I do know that I [can] compete with Petrosyan and any athlete. Each time I prepare, I research my opponent nicely earlier than I begin coaching. Which means I ready an unique and new set of coaching only for Petrosyan solely as a result of my solely aim is to carry that belt again to Thailand.

How is Petrosyan totally different out of your different opponents?
Properly for me, I don’t suppose Petrosyan is kind of totally different from the opposite fighters that I’ve competed with prior to now. For instance, in comparison with Sitthichai. I feel it’s fairly related, you recognize, I really feel like he’s simply [generic]. To reply the query once more, I’ll say, I’m multiple hundred p.c assured that I’m going to win.

Marat Grigorian:

On his sport plan within the coming match:
It’s a battle and something can occur. He [Souwer] has loads of combating expertise, so I don’t underestimate him, he’s nonetheless harmful simply watch. It will probably occur any second.

On the significance of getting an amazing opponent:
When it’s a great opponent, you’re sharper, you’re extra excited to do your finest. Generally, whenever you’re somewhat bit [too] assured you make some errors within the battle and that might be harmful typically.

On probably the most harmful opponent within the Grand Prix:
Each fighter has their very own harmful set of abilities. We will’t examine as a result of everyone seems to be harmful with their abilities. It’s a battle, something can occur. You understand what I like [in this division], it’s loads of motion, there’s loads of sharpness. And sure, like I advised you, something can occur in a battle. You’re presupposed to be sharp as a result of it’s a really excessive degree that we’re combating in. One second, one blink may be the tip of a battle. It’s a great match actually.

Andy Souwer:

On his response upon seeing Marat Grigorian as his opponent:
That’s what I used to be pondering, ‘Puuuh’. Subsequent 12 months I’ll flip 40 years previous and you then’re going to battle a lion like Marat and you then suppose ‘Okay, you by no means did it straightforward.’ I by no means took the simple highway, you recognize. I by no means prevented the most important challenges in life but additionally, particularly in sports activities, the names that I fought, that I conquered, that I’ve overwhelmed. So why gained’t Marat match into that checklist? The primary one I used to be like ‘Whoa, Marat goes to be a troublesome, exhausting, aggressive battle,’ particularly I feel. However then once more I feel, I by no means took the simple highway so let’s go.

On his benefits over Marat:
I see it as a bonus as a result of you recognize what, I already achieved so many issues and I don’t must show something to anyone besides to myself, to my household and that’s what I’m doing proper now. I’m doing issues for a sure correct aim and that feels okay, that feels proper, that feels good. The one factor that’s in entrance of me is Marat.

On negating Marat’s energy:
You understand what, I’ve a gasoline tank too. I’ve by no means lacked conditioning stamina, I’ve by no means lacked the need to win, I by no means lacked the facility to endure the fights, you recognize, so yeah. The one factor that it could carry goes to be fireworks as a result of he’ll come. I’m not right here to play a sport and to keep away from the battle, I’m there for 9 minutes.

ONE: FIRST STRIKE
Giorgio Petrosyan vs. Superbon (ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title)
Marat Grigorian vs. Andy Souwer (World Grand Prix quarterfinal)
Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong vs. Tayfun Ozcan (World Grand Prix quarterfinal)
Samy Sana vs. Chingiz Allazov (World Grand Prix quarterfinal)
Enriko Kehl vs. Davit Kiria (World Grand Prix quarterfinal)
Rade Opacic vs. Patrick Schmid (kickboxing – heavyweight)