ONE Championship announce featherweight kickboxing grand prix – eliminator event likely to see winner earn title shot
- Inaugural featherweight kickboxing Grand Prix took place in 2019 and featured eight fighters
- Champion Chingiz Allazov is not competing so winner is likely to earn a shot at title, held by Superbon Singha Mawynn
ONE Championship announced on Tuesday it would be launching a featherweight kickboxing grand prix in 2024, the third time the competition has featured fighters from this division.
Unlikely traditional fighting events, a Grand Prix is a knockout event where a fighter will be eliminated with defeat or go through to the next round and eventually the final.
The inaugural featherweight kickboxing grand prix took place in 2019 and featured eight fighters. It was won by Giorgio Petrosyan who looks set to return for this year’s tournament.
In 2022, the second edition of the tournament took place, with Chingiz Allazov emerging victorious from a field of eight as he went on to capture the featherweight kickboxing title.
The champion, which means a shot at his title could be on the line for the eventual winner.
On a break from competitive action, the Georgian fighter is unlikely to be invited to take part in the tournament, and an interim featherweight champion was recently crowned with Superbon Singha Mawynn beating Marat Grigorian at ONE Friday Fights 58 to claim the belt.
Both Superbon and Grigorian could be invited to be part of this tournament.
Other featherweights on the roster include Davit Kiria, Sittichai Sitsongpeenong and Masaaki Noiri, who are set to face off at ONE 167 next month.
It is also possible that reigning featherweight Muay Thai champion Tawanchai PKSaenchaigym could be involved.
Tawanchai will be defending his title against Jo Nattawut at ONE 167 next month and has competed in kickboxing in the past. He is coming off a decision win over Superbon in a Muay Thai title fight.
Some of the fighters who competed in the previous two tournaments have either moved on or retired with Yodsanklai Fairtex, Andy Souwer and Petchmorrakot Petchyindee among those who will be unavailable.
But most are still on the roster, giving the promotion a big field to pick from.
