3 Things That Make Mamuka Usubyan A Serious Problem For Marat Grigorian At The Inner Circle 25
Mamuka Usubyan has quietly built one of the most dangerous runs in the featherweight kickboxing division, and no opponent in ONE Championship has found an answer for it yet.
Next, the Russian standout collides with three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion Marat Grigorian at The Inner Circle 25 in a quarterfinal matchup of the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament.
The card will stream live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, August 7, and will be available only for members at live.onefc.com.
Grigorian is not lacking confidence heading into this high-stakes clash, but the man standing across from him brings just as much poise, including a 24-2 resume that includes scalps over former World Champions.
Before the two collide, here are three things that make Usubyan a genuine problem for the Armenian knockout artist.
#1 Usubyan’s Iron Chin
Usubyan has never once been knocked out in his career, and his iron chin has been on full display across four fights in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Three of those victories came against fighters who have made careers out of putting opponents to sleep: Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champions Shadow Mavinn and Khunsuek Superbon Training Camp, and ISKA Kickboxing World Champion Enzo Kartoum.
All three arrived with legitimate knockout pedigree and every intention of adding Usubyan’s name to their highlight reels. None of them managed it as the Russian extended his active win streak to seven – a run that stretches back to July 2023.
That kind of chin could prove enormously frustrating for Grigorian. The Armenian, a 70-win veteran, rarely misses when he opens fire, and few men have ever been able to stand in front of him without eventually crumbling.
Usubyan’s jaw, though, has yet to find its breaking point, and there is no reason to believe that changes at The Inner Circle 25 this week.
#2 Usubyan Thrives When The Fight Gets Tough
Beyond his reputation for surviving punishment, Usubyan has built his entire career on grinding out victories in the toughest of chess matches.
That trait has been a permanent fixture throughout his perfect run on the global stage, and it stretches back even further than that. Fifteen consecutive wins preceded only the second loss of his career in June 2023, a stretch that speaks to a fighter who rarely finds himself outclassed once the gloves are on.
Durability alone does not fully explain that kind of success, though. The 32-year-old pairs his granite chin with sharp timing, quick head movement, an ability to fire off kicks without any telegraphed setup, and a gas tank built to provide fuel deep in a fight without any drop-off in output.
Against a pressure-based athlete like Grigorian, that brand of composure could end up being the deciding factor.
Where lesser opponents tend to wilt the longer the Armenian’s relentless volume piles up on them, the Archangel Michael warrior has repeatedly made a habit of settling in and getting stronger the deeper a fight goes.
#3 His Hunger For Gold
Outside the technical tools and grit he has shown under the promotional banner, Usubyan carries something extremely dangerous heading into The Inner Circle 25: real ambition for ONE World Title gold.
A win over a fighter of Grigorian’s caliber would instantly become the signature victory of his career, and a major step toward his dream of fighting for the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title.
Their quarterfinal clash is the first of four to kick off the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament across the promotion’s stacked triple-header weekend.
The remaining three quarterfinals get underway at ONE SAMURAI 2 inside EBARA WAVE Arena Ota just a day later, where Masaaki Noiri meets Liu “Spirit Dragon” Mengyang, Kaito Ono faces Mohammad Siasarani, and Kosuke “Unstoppable Phoenix” Takagi squares off against Luo Chao. Whoever emerges victorious in this massive tournament will earn a guaranteed shot at reigning divisional king Superbon.
Given what awaits the winner, every warrior will be at their absolute best in this tournament. And that is precisely why overcoming the Armenian would carry so much weight for Usubyan. It would also supply the exact kind of hunger and confidence needed to power through the rest of the bracket.
