Bokang Masunyane’s brief flyweight experiment ended with lessons learned and improvements demonstrated, yet the South African striker’s January 24 return to his natural strawweight domain at ONE Fight Night 39 on Prime Video inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium pits him against the exact kind of challenge that reveals whether his growth translates into divisional success.

There, he faces surging Japanese contender Ryohei Kurosawa, who’s charging toward the rankings with dangerous momentum.

The third-ranked Masunyane compiled a strong 4-2 run in the 125-pound division highlighted by his 37-second head-kick knockout of former ONE World Title challenger Rene Catalan — a finish showcasing the blinding speed and explosive athleticism that’s defined “Little Giant’s” reputation throughout his promotional tenure. Yet his gritty three-round battle against Sanzhar Zakirov at flyweight, while demonstrating sharp improvements in his ground game, ended with scorecards favoring his opponent.

Now regrouped and refocused, Masunyane drops back to strawweight where his physical advantages create problems opponents can’t solve through technique alone. Yet waiting in his path stands a 32-year-old Japanese dynamo whose formidable 20-4 record includes a Pancrase Strawweight Championship reign that validated his credentials before ONE Championship’s matchmakers took notice.

Kurosawa rode a five-fight winning streak in his homeland with four finishes inside two rounds — dominance that forced his invitation to ONE Friday Fights where immediate success confirmed the hype surrounding his arrival. His September outing at ONE Friday Fights 124 saw him dominate Filipino standout Jayson Miralpez across three rounds through crisp striking paired with sharp submission instincts that secured the unanimous decision victory.

The Japanese contender’s well-rounded game creates dangerous puzzles for strikers who rely solely on speed and athleticism. Kurosawa’s technical foundation, built through years competing in Japan’s deep talent pools, combines with finishing instinct that’s produced 15 stoppages across his 20 victories. It’s a rate that suggests he doesn’t need decisions when opportunities emerge.

For Masunyane, this collision represents validation that his flyweight detour provided genuine growth rather than wasted time. His ground game improvements showcased against Zakirov become crucial against a submission-savvy opponent who thrives dragging fights into grappling exchanges where technique neutralizes athletic advantages. Yet if “Little Giant” can impose his striking before Kurosawa closes distance, the speed that destroyed Catalan in 37 seconds remains his most devastating weapon.

The strawweight throne currently held by Joshua Pacio looms over this matchup, creating stakes beyond simple victory or defeat. A dominant Kurosawa performance announces a genuine threat to the crown, confirming Japan’s latest export deserves immediate top-five consideration. Yet a vintage Masunyane showing — particularly if delivered through spectacular finish — reaffirms his place among the division’s elite while suggesting his championship window remains wide open despite recent setbacks.

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