Bokang Masunyane Willing To “Risk It All” Versus Mansur Malachiev At ONE Fight Night 25

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Second ranked strawweight MMA contender Bokang Masunyane knows that if something isn't broken, it doesn't need fixing. This philosophy has helped him create a dominant fighting style in ONE Championship. Despite his mantra, though, "Little Giant" feels something has to change.

The South African gunslinger meets #5-ranked contender Mansur Malachiev in a pivotal showdown at ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II on Saturday, 5 October, at Bangkok, Thailand's Lumpinee Stadium.

Masunyane's skill set has powered him to victory in his last two bouts, beating Hiroba Minowa and Keito Yamakita across three rounds. But in order to really make his presence felt, the 30-year-old feels he must become more unforgiving.

"I haven't really changed much of my game plan because I know it's good, but I do want to start finishing fights. I know I can take my opponents to the deep end, so why not risk it and go to finish the fight?" he said.

"I've been playing a safe game, and I've been beating the guys, but every time I look at the tape, I'm very disappointed I wasn't able to finish, even when I've been dominant. So this time, I'm going out there to risk it all. The more you risk it, the better opportunities you get to win."

Masunyane has been around the ONE World Title picture for quite some time. But he's never actually managed to seal a shot at the coveted gold. The closest he's come was a submission loss to future - but now former - divisional king Jarred Brooks in 2022.

After overcoming staunch names in the weight bracket, the 10-1 battler feels a third win in a row and a dominant showing over Malachiev will be enough to secure a shot at gold - and he's willing to go above and beyond to cement the opportunity.

"For me, after this fight, the only fight that will matter is getting the title shot. That's what I've been wanting for the last four years. I've been defending my #2 spot for a while now, and I think it's time to make a point so I can get my title shot," he said.

"I'm super motivated for this fight, going out on my shield. This is one of the hardest training camps I've done. Mentally, I'm in a great space. I just can't wait to showcase my skills. It's going to be incredible. This fight is for my fans, this fight is for my country, and this fight is for Africa."