Mansur Malachiev was pushed to the limit against Joshua Pacio last year and returned in 2024 with a win over Yosuke Saruta. On Friday, October 4, Malachiev battles Bokang Masunyane in an effort to force his way into the title discussion. The thought of capturing gold dominates the Russian’s thoughts ahead of the ONE Fight Night 25 bout.
“Honestly, I don’t think about him very often. But I’m very happy to face a guy who is ranked number two in the division because a fight like this brings me closer to my ultimate dream of getting a title shot,” Malachiev told ONE.
The 32-year-old is aware of the dangers of the South African. However, Malachiev is confident he holds the edge in this matchup. Still, the rising strawweight contender plans to be on his toes and expect the unexpected so that he is not caught by surprise.
We’re just one week away from another EPIC night of martial arts action at ONE Fight Night 25 on @primevideo 🔥 See Alexis Nicolas and Regian Eersel’s ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title rematch, John Lineker’s second Muay Thai fight in two months against Alexey Balyko, and… pic.twitter.com/a3aNGYQFEN
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“His strength is his powerful wrestling, but I’m sure he can surprise me in other aspects. MMA is always full of surprises and anything is to be expected. I’m sure I’ll be better than my opponent in both wrestling and stand-up [fighting],” Malachiev stated.
While other athletes make brash predictions for knockouts and submissions, Malachiev is simply focusing on the win. Given that Masunyane is ranked as ONE Championship’s #2-ranked strawweight, Malachiev knows a win elevates him regardless. He is not putting the cart before the horse and wants the win, even if it comes by way of a decision.
“I don’t like to talk too much before the fight, but I will do everything to win this fight. For me, it’s not important to finish him early. The most important thing for me is to win this fight and prove that I’m the best. After the win, I deserve to fight for the belt, and it will be fair as Bokang is number two in the rankings,” the 32-year-old said.
The title picture is still a little unclear at the top. After losing the gold by disqualification for an illegal slam against Pacio, Jarred Brooks claimed the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Title at ONE Fight Night 24. The unification bout does not have a date yet, but Malachiev feels Brooks is still the one to beat.
The Russian is already looking ahead to the potential stylistic clash. The wrestling battle intrigues Malachiev, but noted that the striking is also dangerous. Although there are cards that are still to be dealt to make that matchup a reality, the 32-year-old is clear he is eyeing the American for the title shot.
“I think Brooks is the real champion, not Pacio. That’s why I would like to fight him the most. His strong point is his wrestling. Of course, you can’t underestimate his stand-up either, because he’s shown that he’s good in all aspects, both stand-up and wrestling. But I’m sure that I’ve got some advantages and when we fight, I’ll be better. I can beat Brooks. I’m sure it will be a very entertaining fight for the fans,” Malachiev said.
Brooks’ bold personality in and out of the Circle is also a driving force for Malachiev’s desire for the match. It is serving as extra motivation to earn a title shot. At ONE Fight Night 25, Malachiev has the platform to knock off a top contender and call out “The Monkey God” for a shot at interim gold.
“In my opinion, Brooks will never be very complimentary about my skills, judging by the strong words we’ve exchanged on social media. His biggest mistake is that he talks too much. One day, I will prove to him that he’s wrong about me and that he’s just a big mouth,” the Russian remarked.
ONE Fight Night 25 airs live on Friday, October 4, from Bangkok. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Prime Video. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.
