ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio gave his take on the upcoming matchup between two divisional contenders in ranked No. 2 Bokang Masunyane and ranked No. 5 Mansur Malachiev.
The pair of strong wrestlers will duke it out in a crucial strawweight MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II on Saturday, Oct. 5 inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Filipino fighter representing Lions Nation MMA is certainly curious as to how this match will turn out.
“It’s an intriguing matchup. Both are wrestlers, but they bring different strengths to the table,” he said.
Breaking down both fighters, Pacio gave the versatility edge to Masunyane, highlighting the South African’s striking and athleticism as two things that people often overlook in his game.
Masunyane owns a highlight-reel KO finish over former World Title challenger Rene Catalan, proving that if he sees an opening to land that killer blow – he’ll take it.
“Bokang, despite his wrestling roots, is a versatile fighter. He can strike effectively on his feet and grapple extensively on the ground. But don’t underestimate his athleticism — that’s where he truly stands out,” he said.
Having faced Malachiev, Pacio knows what it’s like to battle it out with the Dagestani wrestling machine.
Pacio found out firsthand about the Russian’s aggression. After all, he had to deal with his wrestling from start to finish in their three-round bout last year.
The Filipino scored a decision win over Malachiev, but it certainly took a lot of grit to survive the pace of the Russian.
“Mansur, on the other hand, is a relentless wrestler. He dominates with takedowns and top control,” he said.
“If you let him impose his will, it could be over quickly. His striking is also improving, so he’s not someone to be taken lightly.”
While he doesn’t want to side with either fighter, he promises to be ready for whoever he ends up facing between the two in the future.
“I’m not making any predictions, but whoever comes out on top, I’m ready,” he said.
“I’m a warrior, and I’ll face either of them. Ideally, I want Jarred Brooks next once I get the green light to return, but whether it’s Brooks or the winner of this fight, I’ll be prepared.”
