ONE Fight Night 15: Pivotal Strawweight MMA Bout Booked Between Joshua Pacio, Mansur Malachiev

Former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio takes the first step in his bid to reclaim the weight bracket's World Title at ONE Fight Night 15 on Saturday, 7 October.

"The Passion" meets unbeaten Dagestani dynamo and #5-ranked contender Mansur Malachiev in strawweight MMA action on the night's main card. And given their respective ranks, World Title ramifications loom large for the winner of this combustible matchup.

The #1-ranked strawweight in Pacio will make the walk for the first time since parting ways with the division's gold last December at ONE 164. The Filipino was bested by the brash Jarred Brooks in the main event.

But before he lost the crown, Pacio was a staple at the top of the strawweight division. The 27-year-old was a five-time king, winning 11 of his 15 fights in the world's largest martial arts organization.

Pacio carried four consecutive World Title victories into ONE 164. Pacio had overcome coveted names in Alex Silva, Rene Catalan, and completed a trilogy of bouts with former ONE strawweight kingpin Yosuke Saruta.

History suggests that Pacio always responds to a defeat in resounding fashion. And he'll be itching for the chance to vindicate himself in a rematch against Brooks should he overcome Malachiev.

But the unblemished Russian will prove to be no tune-up fight. Malachiev has won all 11 bouts in his professional career, with nine stoppages on his resume. His latest victory came against promotional mainstay Jeremy Miado this past June at ONE Fight Night 11.

The Dagestani's arrival in ONE offered a grappling clinic. Malachiev quickly took control of the contest. And inside one round, the unbeaten star grounded the Filipino veteran before sinking in a sublime D'arce choke to force an end to proceedings.

Only one bout into his promotional tenure, Malachiev has the chance to propel further up the rankings if he can defeat Pacio. ONE Fight Night 15 could prove a landmark moment in the career of the Russian.

Malachiev has made a name for himself by finishing his opposition. But while Pacio is still only 27 years old, his experience is beyond his years. And when the going gets tough, "The Passion" is one of the hardest combatants to put away.

ONE Fight Night 15 Card

• ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship Bout: Tawanchai P.K.Saenchai (c) vs. Superbon Singha Mawynn

• ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship Bout: Jonathan Haggerty vs. Fabrício Andrade

• ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship Bout: Jonathan Di Bella (c) vs. Danial Williams

• Openweight Submission Grappling Bout: Mikey Musumeci vs. Shinya Aoki

• Strawweight Bout: Joshua Pacio vs. Mansur Malachiev

• Flyweight Bout: Eko Roni Saputra vs. Hu Yong

• Lightweight Bout: Timofey Nastyukhin vs. Zhang Lipeng

• Women's Atomweight Kickboxing Bout: Supergirl Jaroonsak vs. Cristina Morales