“I will do everything I can” - Mansur Malachiev vows to give it his all to guarantee victory over Bokang Masunyane
Mansur Malachiev claimed he's "100 percent ready" for his upcoming strawweight MMA fight against Bokang Masunyane.
At ONE Fight Night 25, Malachiev looks to secure his second win in 2024 following a unanimous decision against Yosuke Saruta. The fifth-ranked strawweight MMA fighter has an opportunity to make a statement in the division, as he's scheduled to face number two-ranked Masunyane.
Masunyane is coming off wins against Keito Yamakita and Hiroba Minowa, making him a tough opponent for anyone at strawweight. Meanwhile, Malachiev has proven to be a potential future title challenger, especially considering his history with the reigning champion, Joshua Pacio (unanimous decision loss).
Mansur Malachiev recently did an interview with ONE to discuss his upcoming matchup at ONE Fight Night 25. He had this to say when asked for a prediction:
"The main task now is to win this fight. We will see how it can be done on the day. I am 100 percent ready and I will do everything I can to win."
ONE Fight Night 25 will air live from the legendary combat sports venue of Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. Friday's event (Oct. 4) in Bangkok, Thailand, can be seen live in U.S. primetime for free by North American and Canadian viewers with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Mansur Malachiev and Bokang Masunyane look to strengthen argument for title shot
Jarred Brooks was dethroned of his ONE strawweight MMA world title due to a disqualification against Joshua Pacio in March. The American superstar later secured a first-round submission against Gustavo Balart for the interim strap, setting up an inevitable trilogy bout with Pacio.
Unfortunately, Pacio suffered a significant knee injury while training, postponing a unification title fight with Brooks. The matchup should take place in late 2024 or early 2025, allowing other contenders an opportunity to rack up wins.
Mansur Malachiev and Bokang Masunyane aren't far off from a strawweight title shot.
Therefore, the winner at ONE Fight Night 25 could find themselves in a prime position to face the winner of Pacio vs. Brooks III or challenge another top contender in an eliminator bout.