Joshua Pacio breaks down Mansur Malachiev’s game ahead of ONE Fight Night 25 match with Bokang Masunyane

Reigning ONE strawweight MMA world champion 'The Passion' Joshua Pacio of the Philippines will be watching closely as top strawweights Mansur Malachiev and Bokang Masunyane jockey for position next week.

The no.5-ranked Malachiev and the no.2-ranked Masunyane are set to do battle at ONE Fight Night 25 on Prime Video, and the winner could very well position himself ever so closer to that elusive world title shot.

Speaking to Sportskeeda MMA in an exclusive interview, Pacio was fixated on Malachiev's game and broke down the talented Russian's arsenal.

'The Passion' said:

"Mansur is a relentless wrestler. He dominates with takedowns and top control. If you let him impose his will, it could be over quickly. His striking is also improving, so he’s not someone to be taken lightly."

Pacio is currently sitting on the sidelines, nursing an ACL injury that has kept him out of action for the last few months. He isn't expected to return this year, although the 28-year-old Lions Nation MMA co-founder says he's just waiting for a doctor's clearance to return to training.

In his absence, longtime rival 'The Monkey God' Jarred Brooks captured a portion of the division's throne by defeating Gustavo Balart last March to win the ONE interim strawweight MMA gold.

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Mansur Malachiev and Bokang Masunyane throw down at ONE Fight Night 25 on Prime Video

'The Passion' Joshua Pacio will be heavily invested in the upcoming showdown between Mansur Malachiev and 'Little Giant' Bokang Masunyane next weekend.

The two will clash at ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel on Prime Video, which will be broadcast live from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, October 4.

Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action live and absolutely free on Amazon Prime Video.

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding the event.