Kaito Ono`s start in ONE Championship has encountered significant issues.
ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong did not hold back his disappointment regarding Kaito Ono`s decision not to proceed with the scheduled fight against Marat Grigorian, publicly stating his frustrations during the post-fight press conference.
Grigorian, the Armenian-Belgian fighter, had missed the initial official testing window but subsequently passed hydration tests, coming in only 0.75 pounds over the agreed weight of 155 lbs.
Sityodtong stated, “When a fighter genuinely wants to compete, they will do so. If a fighter is intimidated by their opponent, they will manufacture excuses not to fight. Given that Kaito was the significant underdog against Grigorian on the card, his decision to avoid the bout isn`t surprising. He had the opportunity to compete but declined… A large weight discrepancy would be understandable, but in this instance, it was less than a single pound. As I`ve observed throughout my long tenure in this sport, fighters seeking to avoid a bout will always find a reason.”
Chatri also clarified that while Kaito received his full payment despite not fighting, Sityodtong felt this payment was unwarranted. He further suggested, “I believe Kaito belongs in smaller promotions,” highlighting his clear disappointment.
Regardless of perspective, this incident creates uncertainty for Kaito`s future with ONE Championship. The Shoot Boxing champion has continued competing in Japan and reportedly aims for a rematch against Tyjani Beztati – a challenging prospect considering GLORY dissolved its lightweight division last year to focus on tournaments in other weight categories.
A convincing win under the ONE banner could have significantly boosted his standing, potentially placing him among the top contenders in the division, a goal he has publicly expressed.
Murray Blackwood 
Gareth Pendleton