“He’s a tough guy” - Denis Puric says he’s aware Elias Mahmoudi won’t be easy to finish ahead of ONE Fight Night 26 clash

Denis Puric knows he has the power to knock anyone into next week, but he's also aware that some fighters are harder to put down than some.

The Bosnian brawler will face off against Elias Mahmoudi in a high-stakes flyweight Muay Thai clash at ONE Fight Night 26 on Dec. 6.

In an interview with ONE Championship, Puric said he wants to get the finish as early as he can but a quick hitter is close to impossible against Mahmoudi. Denis Puric explained that Mahmoudi is tougher than most people expect and that a decision is a plausible end to their Bangkok showdown.

The number three-ranked flyweight Muay Contender said:

"I wanna end it early every time. It just depends on how durable he is and how long he or me [can last in there]. I don’t think it’s gonna go the distance, but it might. He’s a tough guy."

Puric has 41 wins in his professional career, three of which happened in ONE Championship. Of those trio of victories, one was a statement knockout win over multi-time Muay Thai world champion Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat at ONE Fight Night 17.

Denis Puric is also coming off an absolutely brutal three-round kickboxing war against Thai megastar Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE 167 in June this year.

Mahmoudi, meanwhile, has 34 wins in his professional career with four victories in ONE Championship. The fifth-ranked flyweight Muay Thai is coming off back-to-back knockout wins in the promotion at the expense of Edgar Tabares and Taiki Naito.

ONE Fight Night 26 is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

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Elias Mahmoudi believes a win over Denis Puric sets him up for a shot at the vacant ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title

Elias Mahmoudi is confident a win over Denis Puric will push him over the hump and secure that elusive shot at the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title.

The division's throne currently remains vacant after former holder Rodtang Jitmuangnon was stripped of the gold after missing weight ahead of his supposed world title defense against Jacob Smith at ONE 169.

Taking to Instagram, Mahmoudi wrote that he wants a shot at gold once he's done with Puric at ONE Fight Night 26.

"Another step closer to the belt. My fight against the number 2 [3] in the flyweight rankings. We hope that after this fight it will be the title [next]. To all those who follow me, I promise you a fiery fight.🔥🔥🔥"