ONE Championship fighter Joshua Pacio. –ONE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—As a substitute of feeling nervous, Joshua Pacio is feeling pleasure forward of his struggle towards Mansur Malachiev taking place on Saturday.
Pacio and Malachiev will face off within the mid-card of ONE Struggle Night time 15: Le vs. Freymanov at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, a match that Pacio considers a testomony to his competitors degree.
“He’s undefeated for a purpose and for a man like me combating on this degree of competitors, that is what they’re pertaining to after they say that there are ranges on this recreation. I consider that I’ve been combating the most effective of the most effective on the earth and I actually belong right here within the highest degree of competitors,” mentioned the Lions Nation MMA pioneer.
“Preparation-wise, every little thing is finished. It’s about to go down within the hydration checks and weigh-ins however we’re good to go. I’m simply actually excited.”
Nothing screams “excessive stakes” greater than Malachiev and Pacio’s upcoming bout as each combatants have a powerful bid to compete for the ONE Strawweight Championship being held by Jarred Brooks.
Pacio misplaced to Brooks through unanimous resolution which made yield world title however the former Group Lakay member stored his footing within the division’s high 5.
Malachiev, in the meantime, is holding an unscathed 11-0 document. Ought to he enhance to 12-0, the Russian combating machine mentioned he must be warranted a title bout towards Brooks.
“Going to Saturday’s struggle, if I win the struggle, I really feel like I should struggle the champion. He is aware of who I’m so I feel that if I win on Saturday, I deserve a shot to struggle the champion,” mentioned Malachiev.
He additionally performed it secure when requested how he goals to win towards Pacio. As a substitute, he reminded everybody that he’s greater than able to ending fights early.
“I don’t like to speak about these issues prematurely trigger we don’t know what is going to occur. However if you happen to noticed my earlier fights, I completed all of them early. I’ll attempt to do my finest and end it early, but when not, I’m able to struggle till the tip.”
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Malachiev and Pacio will probably be a precursor to the evening’s fundamental occasion between Thanh Le and Ilya Freymanov for the Interim ONE Featherweight strap.