Joshua Pacio once again proved why he remains the king of ONE Championship’s strawweight division, producing a commanding performance to successfully defend his ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship with a first-round submission victory over Russia’s Mansur Malachiev at ONE Friday Fights 121: Inner Circle 21 at the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday, July 10.
In one of the most highly anticipated strawweight bouts of the year, Pacio showcased his evolution as a complete mixed martial artist, neutralizing the dangerous wrestling of the previously once-beaten Russian before finishing the contest with a perfectly executed rear-naked choke.
The emphatic victory further strengthened Pacio’s legacy as one of the greatest Filipino mixed martial artists of his generation and reaffirmed his status as the undisputed ruler of the ONE Championship strawweight division.
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The bout carried significant importance for the reigning champion, who entered the contest determined to bounce back from one of the toughest moments of his career. Just eight months earlier, Pacio suffered the first knockout defeat of his professional career when Japan’s Yuya Wakamatsu stopped him at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Rather than allowing that setback to define him, Pacio used it as motivation to improve every aspect of his game. Against Malachiev, the Team Lakay standout displayed the composure, confidence, and championship mentality that have defined his career.
The challenger attempted to impose his game plan from the opening bell, pressing forward aggressively and looking to utilize his trademark wrestling to dictate the pace of the fight. However, Pacio was well prepared for every scenario.
The Filipino champion expertly defended Malachiev’s takedown attempts while mixing together crisp striking, intelligent movement, and timely grappling transitions. As the opening round progressed, Pacio capitalized on a scramble on the ground, quickly taking his opponent’s back before locking in a tight rear-naked choke.
Malachiev had no answer.
Unable to escape the submission, the Russian eventually lost consciousness, prompting the referee to wave off the contest at the 4:23 mark of the opening round and hand Pacio another successful title defense.
Following the victory, Pacio credited his coaching staff for developing a comprehensive game plan that allowed him to seamlessly blend striking and grappling against one of the division’s most accomplished wrestlers.
🇵🇭 Joshua Pacio is such a stud. He’s grown so, so much since losing the first Jarred Brooks fight.
Beat Malachiev at his own game – Mansur won’t be able to pretend he didn’t lose that one.
The best Filipino MMA fighter of all time.
Perhaps Bokang next if the Little Giant wins… https://t.co/SzE5tPAzM9
— Nick Atkin (@nickatkinone) July 10, 2026
“We prepared hard for this. My striking coach and my grappling coach mixed everything together because this is mixed martial arts. We knew he would go to his bread and butter, and that is the takedown,” Pacio said after the fight.
The victory marked Pacio’s second successful defense during his third reign as ONE Strawweight World Champion, further cementing his place among the promotion’s most accomplished champions. His dominant performance also earned him a US$50,000 Performance Bonus, recognizing one of the night’s most impressive finishes.
With the win, Pacio improved his professional mixed martial arts record to 24-5 while recording the 10th submission victory of his career, highlighting the continued evolution of his grappling game.
For Malachiev, the defeat dropped his record to 14-2, with both losses coming against the Filipino champion. Despite entering the contest with an outstanding résumé and a reputation as one of the division’s elite grapplers, the Russian was once again unable to solve the puzzle presented by Pacio.
Reflecting on his latest triumph, Pacio acknowledged the adversity he has overcome throughout his career and emphasized the perseverance that has enabled him to remain at the top of the division.
“Man, I nearly got submitted by a rear-naked choke. It’s all about perseverance. I came back and got the rear-noked choke to win. That’s why I’m here. It’s never easy. I’m at the top of the food chain. I’m the champion. Whoever ONE Championship gives me, I will face them. But I’m studying the top five in this division every day. I’m looking at their strengths and weaknesses, so I’m ready,” he added.
Pacio’s comments reflected the mindset that has made him one of the most respected champions in ONE Championship. Rather than focusing on a specific opponent, the 30-year-old made it clear that he remains committed to constant improvement and is prepared to face any challenger the promotion puts in front of him.
As the strawweight division continues to evolve, Pacio remains the man every contender is chasing. His latest victory demonstrated not only his elite submission skills but also his ability to adapt against different styles, whether striking, wrestling, or grappling.
With another title defense now secured and momentum firmly back on his side, Pacio has once again reminded the mixed martial arts world why he continues to sit atop ONE Championship’s strawweight division. Regardless of who emerges as the next challenger, the Filipino champion has sent a clear message: the road to the ONE Strawweight World Championship still runs through Joshua Pacio.
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