Mansur Malachiev Arrives At The Inner Circle 21 Fully Fit And Intent On Taking What He Believes Is Already His
Mansur Malachiev has been carrying the same belief for almost three years: that he already beat Joshua Pacio once, and the scorecards simply did not agree. On Friday, he gets the chance to make the argument unavoidable.
The 34-year-old Russian challenger faces Pacio in a rematch for the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title in the main event of The Inner Circle 21, streaming live for members in Asia primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, July 10. The first fight, at ONE Fight Night 15 in October 2023, ended in a unanimous decision for Pacio. Malachiev has not accepted that result quietly.
“I am sure that I won that fight against Pacio, but I do not understand why the judges raised his hand,” he said.
The conviction that the first fight was stolen sits alongside a more grounded piece of context. Malachiev went into that bout with a leg injury and a truncated preparation cycle. The combination cost him, and he knows it. Since then, he has submitted former ONE World Champion Jarred Brooks, beaten Yosuke Saruta, and stopped Bokang Masunyane to arrive at this rematch as the most complete version of himself.
“Last time, I went into the fight with a leg injury, and I had little time to prepare. This time, I was able to complete a full training camp. Now I am in full fighting condition,” he said.
The game plan is built on a wrestling foundation that he believes Pacio cannot handle. He respects the Filipino titleholder’s striking. He respects it precisely because he understands it as the division point between them.
“His strong side is his striking, but he is not very strong in wrestling, especially freestyle wrestling,” he said.
Malachiev is not entering this fight in a state of blind confidence. He has a goal, a method, and the flexibility to adapt if five rounds are required.
“I cannot say that I am 100 percent confident, but I have a goal — to win early. I am ready for everything, even if that means going all five rounds,” he said.
What he is not doing is framing this as a grudge. The belt, not the score, is what he has been working toward since the first fight ended.
“There is no revenge for me. Pacio is a good, humble guy. The belt is the goal I have been striving for,” he said.
“In this fight, I am determined to prove that I did not lose the previous bout. I intend to win the belt that I believe should have become mine.”
Recent posts
