Reigning and undisputed ONE strawweight MMA world champion ‘The Passion’ Joshua Pacio of the Philippines knows his next foe has improved greatly, and he’s not taking him lightly in any way.
Pacio is set to take on Russian star Mansur Malachiev in a rematch for the strawweight MMA world title in the main event of The Inner Circle 21, which broadcasts live in Asia primetime on Friday, July 10, from the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
In a recent interview with ONE Championship, Pacio talked about Malachiev’s improvements since their first fight.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
‘The Passion’ told the world’s largest martial arts organization:
“He definitely improved, especially that last fight with Jarred Brooks. What I saw is his wrestling improved even more. I think his striking is also catching up. When he fought Saruta, he was hitting his mark. I think he caught him with a left hook at one point, so his striking has also gotten better. He’s starting to use his reach advantage much better.”
Needless to say, Pacio is ready to prove once again why he’s the better man.
Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action of The Inner Circle 21 live via a monthly subscription through live.onefc.com. Please visit ONE Championship’s official website for more information on how to watch from your location.
Joshua Pacio says Mansur Malachiev has a chip on his shoulder: “He still hasn’t accepted that he lost”
Joshua Pacio is excited for his showdown with Mansur Malachiev at The Inner Circle 21 this Friday night, and he’s looking forward to another tough outing against the Dagestani.
‘The Passion’ told ONE:
“It was a close match. I think until now, he still hasn’t accepted that he lost. I believe I have grown up since that fight, three years ago. I’ve also watched how he has improved and matured as a fighter and an athlete. He beat top contenders like Bokang [Masunyane] and [Yosuke] Saruta, and of course, [Jarred] Brooks… I think this will be an exciting rematch.”
Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding Joshua Pacio’s next fight.
Edited by Aziel Karthak
You must be logged in to post a comment Login