Mansur Malachiev is looking to make a splash in his second match in the ONE Championship, and he believes he has a prime opportunity to do so.

At ONE Fight Night 15: Le vs. Freymanov this Friday, October 6, the undefeated Russian star will face the former longtime strawweight MMA king, Joshua Pacio, inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The event will be broadcast live and for free on Prime Video for fans across North America.

A win over Joshua Pacio- Mansur Malachiev’s plans for the World Championship title

After defeating erstwhile #5-ranked contender Jeremy Miado in his debut outing to take the Filipino star’s spot in the rankings, the 31-year-old is looking to move further up the rankings when he faces ‘The Passion.’ “I feel good. I’m fired up for this fight. He’s an experienced fighter and was the World Champion in ONE, so I’m training hard to beat him,” he said in an interview with ONE.

“A win over Pacio would be a major win for me on my way to the big goal – the ONE belt. My opponent is number one in the division, and a win over him would bring me closer to a World Title fight.” The Dagestani native wasn’t shy about discussing his goals to claim the World Title as soon as he arrived in the world’s largest martial arts organization.

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Reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred Brooks defeated the top three contenders in the division on his way to the top, and he has expressed his willingness to face new contenders. As such, Malachiev could certainly fast-track his rise by taking out Pacio. ‘The Passion’ held the World Title across two reigns before he fell to Brooks via unanimous decision last December. Pacio has moved from the famed Team Lakay gym to a new home in Lions Nation MMA since then, however, so he will certainly be looking to make a statement in his return to competition.

Malachiev recognizes the threat Pacio possesses inside the ring

Malachiev is no stranger to his upcoming opponent’s skills, but he remains confident in his own abilities to secure a victory. “In his arsenal, he has striking and very good wrestling defense, but my wrestling is on a whole different level. We’ll see if he can defend against it,” he said.

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“I have been honing my skills for years among the best wrestlers in Dagestan. I’m experienced enough to out-wrestle anyone, and Pacio is no exception.”