Former pound for pound king returns Saturday at Bellator Kickboxing

Giorgio Petrosyan. The name carries a special weight to kickboxing fans. For a four year run from 2009-2013, Petrosyan was the undeniable pound for pound king of kickboxing. During that time, the Doctor ruled over the Lightweight division, winning two K-1 MAX GP’s plus the Glory 70kg GP. His technique was impeccable, showing a mastery of stand-up striking paralleled by only a select few men in any combat sport. If that sounds like outlandish hyperbole, it’s not. Petrosyan was simply the best.

Then, in late 2013 at Glory 12, that all fell apart. Petrosyan was knocked out in a shocking upset by Andy Ristie. The king was dead. He would spend the next year on the sidelines, missing all of 2014…