Mansur Malachiev (14-1) will meet ONE strawweight champion Joshua Pacio (23-5) in a rematch on July 10 at The Inner Circle 21. Their first encounter in 2023 ended in a unanimous decision victory for Pacio, which remains the only loss on Malachiev's professional record.
Mansur Malachiev and ONE Championship strawweight champion Joshua Pacio are set to run it back, with the two men scheduled to meet in a rematch on July 10 at The Inner Circle 21.
The bout is a direct sequel to their previous meeting in 2023, when Pacio claimed a unanimous decision victory over Malachiev. That result stands as the sole blemish on Malachiev's professional record, giving the rematch a clear sense of unfinished business from his perspective.
Malachiev enters the contest carrying a 14-1 record, with that single loss coming exclusively at Pacio's hands. The Chechen fighter has otherwise been flawless throughout his career and has clearly earned another shot at the champion by staying active and unbeaten in every other outing.
Pacio, meanwhile, holds a 23-5 professional record and remains the reigning ONE strawweight titleholder. The Filipino champion proved his championship credentials in their first fight and will now be tasked with defending his position against a motivated opponent who knows exactly what it takes to push him to the limit.
Why it matters
- Malachiev has a personal score to settle, with the 2023 decision loss representing the only defeat of his career
- Pacio defends the ONE strawweight title against the one man who has come closest to matching him in recent memory
- A different result this time would mark a significant title change in one of ONE Championship's most competitive divisions
- The rematch dynamic adds an additional layer of tactical intrigue, as both men now have detailed film on each other from their first encounter
