“Would Have Been a Mistake to Jump Right Back Into a Fight” – Kirill Grishenko Opens Up on “Long Break” Before ONE Fight Night 23

Former ONE World Title challenger Kirill Grishenko has been away from the global stage for some time, but that doesn’t mean he’s been out of action.

Next Friday, July 5, the Belarusian Giant is set to return to the world’s largest martial arts organization in a heavyweight MMA battle with South Korean powerhouse “Mighty Warrior” Kang Ji Won at ONE Fight Night 23 on Prime Video inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, but he took time out to tell ONE Championship what he’s been up to since his last promotional outing.

Kirill Grishenko confirms his leg is all good now

Grishenko fell to a first-round submission at the hands of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida at ONE on Prime Video 1 in August 2022, which led him to reassess his skills and focus on building back his confidence. 

“After the [loss to] Marcus Almeida, I had a minor leg injury, but we healed up and got back to work. We needed to analyze my mistakes and add some new elements to my style,” he said.  

“Now, I’m completely healthy and ready to show the new and improved version of myself. I am ready to put on a great show. I know I have huge potential in MMA, and everything is in my hands.” 

While there is no shame in tapping out to a 14-time BJJ World Champion, the M2G standout chose to go back to the drawing board after the defeat. 

How did the Belarusian Giant fare in his first boxing bout?

As a former national representative for Belarus in Greco-Roman wrestling, he went back to his martial arts roots and even decided to step out of his comfort zone and enter a boxing tournament – with impressive results. 

“I had a fairly long break from professional MMA competition, and it would have been a mistake to jump right back into a fight. My coaching staff and I decided to get a taste of a competitive atmosphere by participating in amateur sports. I competed in grappling, Greco-Roman wrestling, and boxing,” he said.

“While I’ve always felt comfortable in wrestling due to my wrestling background, boxing was a new challenge for me. I participated in the Belarussian Boxing Championship and, to everyone’s surprise, I won it. My coach, Konstantin Makhankov, wasn’t surprised at all.  

“We did this to prove to ourselves once again that I can compete on the striking front with any opponent. It gave me a lot of confidence, which is exactly what I need before my upcoming fight.” 

Despite not achieving his latest career success in the ONE Championship, Grishenko has proven that he is still among the planet’s elite fighters with the accolades he amassed. 

He’ll look to ride the momentum he has built up into a decisive victory against a tough foe in Kang at ONE Fight Night 23 next weekend, and fans should be ready for a barnburner.