Diego Paez Hunts Knockout, Ghazali Has 'Nothing to Lose' at The Inner Circle 35 Rematch
Diego Paez and Johan "Jojo" Ghazali are heading back into the ring with something to prove.
The Colombian-American veteran and the Malaysian-American teenage sensation will settle their flyweight Muay Thai rivalry in the co-main event of The Inner Circle 35 on Friday, October 16, from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, streaming on live.onefc.com.
Their first meeting in 2025 ended in a razor-close split decision for Paez, his only victory in three ONE Championship appearances, with all three of his bouts ending by that same narrow margin.
Ghazali, who arrived in ONE Championship with a bang by earning a US$100,000 main roster contract via ONE Friday Fights, has seen mixed results since his promotion to the main roster, winning two and losing two after the Paez defeat. He wants the form that made him the most exciting young striker in the flyweight division back, and he believes this rematch is the night it returns.
Paez wants to make it 2-0 in the rivalry. Ghazali wants to avenge the loss. Neither man is showing up in Bangkok for a narrow verdict.
Paez Wants to Put a Stamp on the Rematch
The California native has taken everything the 19-year-old brought in their first meeting and used it to shape his approach for October 16. Paez is not walking into the rematch underestimating a teenager whose pressure style gave him genuine problems in 2025.
"He's a very tough kid. He's got a good pressure style, and he's one of those fighters where, when you hit, you ignite him too. But I'm going out there to perform and put a stamp on it. I don't want no more split decisions," Paez stated.
Paez started martial arts around the age of 12 and has built eight career wins on his way to this rematch, and the desire to close the show rather than leave it to the judges has clearly become the central ambition heading into October 16.
Ghazali Says the Pressure Is on Paez, Has Nothing to Lose at 19
The teenager has reframed the rematch narrative in a way that places all the weight on his experienced opponent. Ghazali's read on the psychological dynamics of the matchup gives him the kind of calm confidence that makes dangerous fighters even more so.
"He is a tough fighter who is hard to catch. But it doesn't concern me. I still feel like I'm the better fighter, and if you zoom out, the pressure is on him. I'm 19. I have nothing to lose. He can be as hungry as he wants to. But none of his hunger will worry me too much. I'm dialed in, and I'm ready to k*ll," Ghazali explained.
Ghazali brings a 27-11 career record and eight ONE Championship wins, six by finish, into the rematch. He has been competing under the ONE banner since he was 16 and winning against some solid fighters, but his main-roster run has brought new challenges.
Paez Hunting the Knockout at The Inner Circle 35
The shift Paez has made heading into the rematch is the most significant upgrade he brings to October 16. Having claimed the split decision in their first meeting, the Colombian-American is not satisfied with another narrow verdict.
"I think I can knock him out. I've really tapped in on being more aggressive when it comes to hunting and going for the kill, as opposed to playing the scoring game and knowing when I'm ahead," he declared.
Paez, who documents the close bond with him and his son online, wants to hunt for the finish instead of managing the scorecards. That is a different type of opponent from the one Ghazali faced in 2025, and the 19-year-old's own promise to come with maximum aggression sets up a rematch where both fighters are planning to force the issue rather than wait for the judges.
Watch The Inner Circle 35 exclusively on live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT.
