ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug will mark the start of a new chapter for Brazilian brawler Walter Goncalves when he moves down to the strawweight Muay Thai realm next month.

"Iron Hands" will be welcomed to the weight bracket by knockout artist Aliff Sor Dechapan inside Bangkok, Thailand's Lumpinee Stadium on Saturday, 9 November. Goncalves never shied away from a fight in the flyweight division, evident through his many high-stake clashes.

The 26-year-old has fought the likes of #3-ranked contender Jacob Smith, two-division king Superlek Kiatmoo9, and ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon. But now he hopes to turn his fortunes around at strawweight.

"I've actually always fought in the strawweight division, but in ONE, I was fighting a weight class above my own. In the flyweight division, I thought my opponents were stronger and heavier, so I decided it was time to go back to fighting in the strawweight division, where I always felt stronger," Goncalves said.

"I hope to do well in this new division at ONE and achieve everything on this new journey that I am starting in the organization."

Goncalves has stung many opponents with his heavy hands, and he hopes to begin racking up the finishes beginning with Aliff in just a matter of weeks. He believes his Thai opponent allows himself to take too many strikes, and that's where the Brazilian thinks he'll succeed.

Despite his willingness to stand in the pocket and participate in a firefight, Aliff hasn't suffered any knockout losses in his ONE Championship tenure as of yet, but Goncalves is hoping to change that at ONE 169.

"I believe that my biggest advantage in this fight will be my power, as well as my striking and my desire to win again. I really need it, and I will come out of this fight with the victory," he said.

"His weak point is his chin. When he takes a clean blow to the chin, he loses his fighting base a little. And that's what I'm going to do to him. I'm going to hit his chin to build my victory."