ONE Inner Circle 21 Preview: Joshua Pacio Defends Against Malachiev In Rematch

ONE Championship’s Friday doubleheader in Bangkok

ONE Championship stages a Friday evening doubleheader on July 10 at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, with The Inner Circle 21 and ONE Friday Fights 161. The two broadcasts feature 14 matchups in total, including a ONE Strawweight MMA World Title rematch and a full slate of combat sports bouts.

The Inner Circle 21 is headlined by reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio against Russian grappler Mansur Malachiev. Pacio, who holds a 23-5 record and a 14-5 promotional mark with nine finishing wins, meets the 34-year-old Dagestan fighter again after winning their 2023 fight by unanimous decision.

Main fights and key names

The co-main event sees Filipino veteran Eduard Folayang face Japan’s Shozo Isojima in lightweight MMA. Folayang has said the result will shape his future in the sport. Isojima enters with a 6-1 MMA record and brings youth and pace into the bout. ONE Friday Fights 161 follows with 10 contests.

ONE Friday Fights 161 is built around the flyweight Muay Thai main event between Thai knockout artist Jaradchai Maxjandee and Morocco’s Othman Rhouni. Both fighters are known for stopping power. The card also offers US$100,000 contract chances and career chances across several divisions.

Watch times in India

In India, The Inner Circle 21 streams live on live.onefc.com from 5:00 PM IST. ONE Friday Fights 161 is scheduled live on Star Sports Select 2 and JioHotstar at 7:00 PM IST. Both events take place at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok on July 10.

The Friday programme also includes Detchawalit Silkmuaythai vs. Tom Casse, Elies Abdelali vs. Ali Kelat, Petsiam T2A Waterubon vs. Nihad Taghizade, Tonglampoon FA Group vs. Petsangwan Sor Samarngarment, Tom Keogh vs. Michael Baranov, Klarob NuiCafeboran vs. Omar El Halabi, Kulabkaw Luksingnamchai vs. Meshal Alsaeed, Alexandre Khan vs. Go Todoroki, Khundet PK Saenchai vs. Sunvo Torfunfarm, Phatiphan Arthinkong vs. J Han Tan, and Min Sung Kang vs. Yusei Iwakura.