"MMA is always full of surprises" - Mansur Malachiev confident he's superior to Bokang Masunyane in all aspects
Mansur Malachiev is confident that his expertise in all areas of fighting will allow him to deal with everything that Bokang Masunyane has to offer. On Oct.4, he will will face the No.2-ranked strawweight MMA contender, Bokang Masunyane, in Thailand's Lumpinee Boxing Stadium at ONE Fight Night 25.
The high-stakes bout will likely reveal the next contender for the strawweight crown, which is an opportunity that Malachiev isn't taking for granted. After undergoing another rigorous training camp, the 32-year-old standout is confident that he will pose a serious threat to his next rival, in both wrestling and striking.
But at the same time, he acknowledges that anything can happen in MMA. He will be cautious so as to not overlook some of the qualities that have kept Masunyane in the upper end of the rankings.
Speaking to ONE, Malachiev said:
"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]."
ONE Fight Night 25 will air live on Friday, Oct. 4, at U.S. Primetime, which will be free of charge for Prime Video subscribers in North America.
"I think Brooks is the real champion" - Mansur Malachiev believes a world title fight with Jarred Brooks will enhance his MMA legacy
Mansur Malachiev is truly all about becoming the next strawweight MMA world champion. But in order to establish himself as the legitimate chmapion, Malachiev believes that he has to go through 'The Monkey God' Jarred Brooks.
Speaking to ONE, he said:
"I think Brooks is the real champion, not Pacio, That's why I would like to fight him the most."
At the moment, Joshua Pacio holds the strawweight belt. He reclaimed his title in March 2022 via disqualification after Brooks performed an illegal spike on his head during a takedown.
'The Monkey God' has since captured the ONE interim title, while Pacio continues to recover from a serious knee injury. Although the Filipino superstar is making progress, the likelihood that he won't return soon gives Mansur Malachiev the motivation he needs to win his next bout and meet Brooks as planned.