Two high-stakes MMA blockbuster matchups featuring Filipino martial arts heroes have officially been locked in for The Inner Circle 21, streaming exclusively for members on live.onefc.com.
ONE Championship returns with this spectacular double-header, broadcasting live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s historic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, July 10.
In the highly anticipated main event, reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio will defend his 26 pounds of gold in a colossal rematch against dangerous Russian juggernaut Mansur Malachiev.
Sharing the spotlight in the co-main event is an absolute pioneer of Asian martial arts.
Former multiple-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang returns to the global stage for a crucial lightweight bout against Japanese finisher Shozo “Great Teacher” Isojima.
The main event marks a thrilling second chapter to an incredibly technical rivalry that originally began three years ago, long before gold was ever on the line.
Pacio and Malachiev first crossed paths at ONE Fight Night 15 in October 2023.
At the time, Pacio was navigating his way back to the strawweight throne, and he handed the highly touted Russian the first and only defeat of his professional career via a brilliant, hard-fought unanimous decision.
Following that pivotal victory, “The Passion” went on to reclaim the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship by defeating then-titleholder Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks at ONE 166: Qatar in March 2024.
Pacio was sidelined with a torn ACL soon thereafter, and Brooks would eventually capture the division’s interim crown. But once the Filipino was healed, he faced his American rival in a World Title trilogy and finished him at ONE 171: Qatar in February 2025 to unify the gold.
Now sitting comfortably back on his throne, the Lions Nation MMA representative wants to prove that his initial victory over Malachiev was no fluke by putting an emphatic stamp on their feud.
However, Malachiev has been entirely perfect since that solitary blemish.
The Dagestani wrestling machine bounced back with a dominant victory over former titleholder Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta, out-grappled Bokang “Little Giant” Masunyane, and recently sent shockwaves through the division by putting the aforementioned Brooks to sleep with a spectacular second-round submission at ONE Fight Night 36 last October.
Riding a blazing three-fight winning streak with victories over top opposition, the Russian has earned his shot at redemption, setting up a classic grappler-versus-striker chess match on July 10.
In the co-main event, fans will witness a living legend step back inside the ropes as Folayang continues the final stretch of a glorious, hall-of-fame career.
As a former three-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion, Folayang’s legacy is secure.
From headlining the very first event in ONE history to winning gold multiple times over, the beloved icon has spent more than a decade competing against the absolute best on the planet, defining a golden era for Philippine MMA.
After enduring a difficult career skid, the Baguio City resident proved his timeless fighting ability by orchestrating a spectacular finish over Amir Khan in their high-profile rematch at ONE Fight Night 14 in September 2023.
However, he suffered another heartbreaking submission defeat to longtime rival Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki at ONE 172 in March 2025.
Now looking to add another memorable victory to his legendary resume, “Landslide” brings his signature wushu striking and unparalleled veteran experience back to the Thai capital.
Looking to capture a legacy-defining victory over the former king at The Inner Circle 21 is Japan’s Isojima.
The 28-year-old technician entered the world’s largest martial arts organization with an impressive regional pedigree.
While Isojima scored a spectacular TKO victory over Nicolas “El Paisa” Vigna at ONE Fight Night 36 last October, “Great Teacher” subsequently dropped tough back-to-back encounters against world-class opposition in Tye Ruotolo and teenage phenom Adrian “The Phenom” Lee.
Highly motivated to get his global campaign back on track, the judoka views this clash with a Mount Rushmore-level legend like Folayang as his ultimate golden opportunity.
For the Japanese athlete, defeating “Landslide” at The Inner Circle 21 would instantly skyrocket his name on the international stage and breathe new life into his lightweight aspirations.
With a massive World Title rematch and the return of an iconic pioneer officially locked in, combat sports fans are guaranteed a masterclass of MMA action on July 10.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about The Inner Circle 21.
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