ONE Championship

Joshua Pacio Conquers Mansur Malachiev Again To Prove He Is The Undisputed King

By LockerRoom Team July 17, 2026

Their first meeting was close. This one was not. Joshua "The Passion" Pacio retained the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title with a rear-naked choke submission of Mansur Malachiev at 4:23 of round one at The Inner Circle 21 and ONE Friday Fights 161 on 10 July at Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium.

Malachiev's game plan was clear — drag Pacio to the canvas and impose his grappling. He nearly succeeded. A face crank, then a rear-naked choke attempt from back control. Pacio escaped both, reversed the position, and returned the favour — cinching his own choke until the Russian went to sleep. Debate closed.

Shozo "Great Teacher" Isojima walked into The Inner Circle 21 with his career at a crossroads. He left with a TKO of Filipino MMA legend Eduard "Landslide" Folayang at 4:29 of round one and his belief fully restored. A left hook answered Folayang's early knockdown. The pendulum swung — and never swung back.

What followed was sixty seconds of ferocious exchanges before a second Isojima left hook sent Folayang stumbling in search of the ropes. One more punch arrived before the referee could intervene. Folayang's record absorbs another loss. Isojima's moves to 7-2 and the comeback is very much alive.

Jaradchai Maxjandee gets knocked down. Jaradchai Maxjandee gets back up. The 18-year-old flyweight absorbed a left hook in round two that dropped him mid-kick, beat the eight-count, and hunted Rhouni until a flying knee and a left high kick produced a knockdown of his own. Unanimous decision. Still unbeaten in ONE Friday Fights.

Petsiam T2A Waterubon's body kick is a weapon of mass destruction. The two-division Rajadamnern Stadium World Champion used it twice in 113 seconds to drop Nihad Taghizade — left middle kick, rise, left middle kick again — until the referee ended the strawweight kickboxing co-main event at 1:53 of round one.

The Inner Circle 21 – 10 July Results:

  • Joshua Pacio def. Mansur Malachiev via submission at 4:23 of round one to retain the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship
  • Shozo Isojima def. Eduard Folayang via TKO at 4:29 of round one (MMA – lightweight)
  • Detchawalit Silkmuaythai def. Tom Casse via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – bantamweight)
  • Ali Kelat def. Elies Abdelali via TKO at 2:29 of round three (Muay Thai – featherweight)

ONE Friday Fights 161 – 10 July Results:

  • Jaradchai Maxjandee def. Othman Rhouni via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – flyweight)
  • Petsiam T2A Waterubon def. Nihad Taghizade via TKO at 1:53 of round one (Kickboxing – strawweight)
  • Petsangwan Sor Samarngarment def. Tonglampoon FA Group via KO at 2:57 of round one (Muay Thai – strawweight)
  • Tom Keogh def. Michael Baranov via KO at 0:46 of round two (Muay Thai – featherweight)
  • Klarob NuiCafeboran def. Omar El Halabi via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – flyweight)
  • Kulabkaw Luksingnamchai def. Meshal Alsaeed via TKO at 1:15 of round two (Muay Thai – bantamweight)
  • Go Todoroki def. Alexandre Khan via KO at 3:21 of round one (MMA – featherweight)
  • Sunvo Torfunfarm def. Khundet PK Saenchai via KO at 2:28 of round three (Muay Thai – flyweight)
  • Phatiphan Arthinkong def. J Han via unanimous decision (Submission Grappling – featherweight)
  • Min Sung Kang def. Yusei Iwakura via KO at 2:07 of round two (MMA – lightweight)