"I've changed a lot of stuff for this fight" - Bokang Masunyane vows to unleash his killer instinct against Mansur Malachiev
Second-ranked ONE strawweight MMA contender Bokang Masunyane is a well-rounded athlete with world-class striking and grappling skills. His explosive strength and speed, along with his cat-like reflexes make him a formidable adversary for anyone in the 125-pound ranks.
However, 'Little Giant' admits his inability to put his opponents away has held him back from earning a shot at 26 pounds of gold.
At ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs Eersel II on Prime Video, Bokang Masunyane wants to change the narrative by putting away Russian powerhouse Mansur Malachiev.
He told ONE ahead of this three-round showdown at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Oct. 4:
"This fight I’m really looking for a finish. Mostly by doing my style of fighting. I’m going to be looking out for Mansur, but it’s mostly going to be me fighting the way I fight and expressing myself. That’s much better than me trying to beat people according to their style. So I’ve changed a lot of stuff for this fight, and I’m very excited about it."
Bokang Masunyane is a freak athlete, and we've seen glimpses of his dynamic power when he annihilated Rene Catalan with a violent barrage back in 2020.
Bokang Masunyane ready for Mansur Malachiev's signature Dagestani-style pressure
In order to finish Mansur Malachiev, Bokang Mansunyane is aware that he must first overcome the Dagestani's feared grappling-heavy arsenal.
Then again, 'Little Giant' revealed he watched a lot of tape and now understands how the Russian operates.
"He’s a very dominant grappler and it was nice to use that fight to study. I also went to study his other more recent fights, so I’m really confident going into this fight," he told ONE.
We'll find out soon if the South African warrior stays true to his word and takes out Malachiev at ONE Fight Night 25. The full event will air live in US Primetime free of charge for Prime Video subscribers in North America.