It’s only the second time Petrosyan has ever been stopped in his decorated career.
That is not a misprint in the headline.
Giorgio Petrosyan, who hadn’t lost in eight years (well technically he did lose in 2019 but ONE overturned the decision to illegal clinching) and had only been stopped once in well over 100 kickboxing matches, was absolutely flattened in stunning fashion by Muay Thai standout Superbon at ONE Championship: First Strike in Singapore.
Considered by many to be the #1 kickboxer in the world, Petrosyan threw a left hand after Superbon threw a body kick. On the exit after the left hand, Petrosyan most certainly did not expect Superbon to return fire with a right high kick. Game, set, and match early in round two. It is one of the best knockouts of 2021 regardless of combat sport and Superbon is ONE Championship’s inaugural featherweight champion.
What. A. KNOCKOUT! Superbon SLEEPS Giorgio Petrosyan with a second-round head kick to become the first-ever ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion! #ONEFirstStrike #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/rQzZqEswSx
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) October 15, 2021
Presumably for precautionary reasons, Petrosyan was taken to the hospital but he is conscious per Ariel Helwani.
Superbon joins Andy Ristie as the only fighters to ever knock out Petrosyan, but Ristie’s KO doesn’t even rate compared to what just happened in Kallang. A truly sensational shot that sees him vanquish kickboxing’s top man.