‘I Am Ready For Everything’ – Mansur Malachiev Targets Joshua Pacio’s Undisputed Gold At The Inner Circle 21
Mansur Malachiev has never treated the only loss of his professional mixed martial arts career as a settled matter.
Almost three years after Joshua “The Passion” Pacio handed him a narrow unanimous decision defeat at ONE Fight Night 15, the 13-1 Russian powerhouse still firmly believes he did more than enough to win that night. Now, he gets the ultimate opportunity to turn that lingering belief into something far greater than simple vindication.
On Friday, July 10, Malachiev will challenge Pacio for the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title in the main event of The Inner Circle 21. The blockbuster matchup streams live in Asia primetime exclusively for members at live.onefc.com from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
Their initial encounter in 2023 was physically draining, technically complex, and fiercely competitive from the opening bell to the final horn. Malachiev found consistent success with his signature takedowns and suffocating grappling pressure, while Pacio answered with damaging strikes, dangerous submission threats, and the cleaner individual moments that ultimately swayed the judges.
But for the 34-year-old contender, the memory remains vastly different.
The Universal Fighters representative recalled:
“I am sure that I won that fight against Pacio, but I do not understand why the judges raised his hand.”
That single sentiment explains the immense emotional fuel behind this high-stakes rematch.
Malachiev is not entering the ring as a challenger simply happy to receive his first crack at ONE World Title gold. He is returning to an unresolved piece of business against the man he believes should never have left with the victory.
Since that lone career setback, the Dagestani standout has systematically rebuilt his contender status with undeniable substance. He bounced back with key victories over former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta and South African powerhouse Bokang “Little Giant” Masunyane, before producing his biggest promotional statement by submitting former divisional kingpin Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks.
That spectacular run brought him right back to Pacio, but the challenger insists this version of himself is far better prepared than the one who competed in 2023.
Malachiev explained:
“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.”
That crucial detail dramatically changes the narrative of the rematch.
In the first encounter, a compromised Malachiev still pushed Pacio through three hard rounds. This time around, he believes the potent combination of perfect health, pristine timing, and a full camp will allow him to seamlessly impose the strongest version of his wrestling-heavy game.
Pacio remains one of the most decorated strawweights in ONE history — a battle-tested World Champion with sharp striking, proven durability, and the rare ability to create danger even when forced backward or taken down. Malachiev fully respects that pedigree, but he also sees a clear path to victory.
The Russian offered:
“His strong side is his striking, but he is not very strong in wrestling, especially freestyle wrestling.”
“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.”
Malachiev Seeks Resolution, Not Revenge
For all the intense emotion attached to the rematch with reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio, Mansur Malachiev explicitly refuses to frame this headliner as a bitter grudge match.
The marquee opportunity is not only about correcting what he believes was an incorrect judging result. It is also the exact defining moment he has been relentlessly chasing since he first signed with the world’s largest martial arts organization.
He stated:
“This is what I have been striving for, to prove to the whole world that I am the best in the best organization.”
That elite ambition gives the main event of The Inner Circle 21 its real edge. Malachiev respects Pacio, acknowledges his historical qualities, and understands the massive scale of what the Filipino icon has accomplished. But respect has not changed his absolute conviction that the first fight should have ended differently.
He is not promising emotional revenge. He is promising absolute resolution.
Malachiev concluded:
“There is no revenge for me. Pacio is a good, humble guy. The belt is the goal I have been striving for.
“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.”
