ONE Championship: The Inner Circle 21 Results — Joshua Pacio Submits Mansur Malachiev To Retain Strawweight MMA World Title
By Real Combat Media MMA Editorial Staff
Bangkok, Thailand, (July 10th, 2026)– Joshua Pacio left no room for an argument this time. Three years after escaping Mansur Malachiev with a decision the Russian never fully accepted, “The Passion” delivered the rematch answer in the most decisive way possible. He needed just one round and a rear-naked choke to close the book on any lingering doubt about who owns the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title.
The finish headlined The Inner Circle 21 and ONE Friday Fights 161, a 14-bout spectacular that streamed live from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, July 10. Pacio improved to 24-5 and pocketed a $50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, while the co-main event delivered a changing of the guard as Shozo Isojima stopped Filipino icon Eduard Folayang in what may have been the 42-year-old legend’s final walk to the ring.
Main Event Breakdown
Pacio’s title reign nearly ended before he ever got the chance to defend it. Malachiev, a Dagestani wrestling specialist with six of his seven career submission wins coming by choke, opened exactly as scouted. He scored an immediate takedown, took top position, and turned a face crank into a rear-naked choke attempt that had the champion in genuine danger inside the first two minutes.
Championship pedigree showed up when it mattered most. Pacio weathered the storm, worked a reversal, and by the midpoint of round one he was the one hunting Malachiev’s back. The finishing sequence was patient rather than frantic. Pacio adjusted his grip as Malachiev fought to peel the arm away, and the challenger ultimately went unconscious rather than tap, with the referee waving it off at 4:23.
It’s Pacio’s second successful defense of his third reign atop the strawweight division and the 10th submission win of his career. For Malachiev, now 14-2 with both losses against the same man, the path back to a third crack at the belt just got considerably longer.
Co-Main Event
Folayang’s story carried the emotional weight of the co-main event, and for a moment it looked like the three-time former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion was going to author one final signature moment. The 42-year-old dropped Isojima early with a clean right hand. Isojima answered almost immediately, dropping Folayang with a left hook, following up on the mat, and briefly hunting an armbar before the Filipino icon scrambled free.
The Japanese judoka closed the show late in the round, rocking Folayang again before the referee stepped in at 4:29. It’s a career-best win for the 28-year-old Isojima, who moves to 7-2, and it leaves an open question over what comes next for a fighter who holds the distinction of headlining ONE Championship’s very first event back in 2011.
Full Card Results
Strawweight MMA World Championship: Joshua “The Passion” Pacio def. Mansur Malachiev by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 1, 4:23
Lightweight MMA: Shozo Isojima def. Eduard “Landslide” Folayang by TKO (Punches), Round 1, 4:29
Bantamweight Muay Thai: Detchawalit Silkmuaythai def. Tom “No Time” Casse by Unanimous Decision
Featherweight Muay Thai: Ali Kelat def. Elies Abdelali by TKO, Round 3, 2:29
Flyweight Muay Thai: Jaradchai Maxjandee def. Othman “The Ironside” Rhouni by Unanimous Decision
Strawweight Kickboxing: Petsiam T2A Waterubon def. Nihad “Shiekh” Taghizade by TKO, Round 1, 1:53
Strawweight Muay Thai: Petsangwan Sor Samarngarment def. Tonglampoon FA Group by KO, Round 1, 2:57
Featherweight Muay Thai: Tom Keogh def. Michael Baranov by KO, Round 2, 0:46
Flyweight Muay Thai: Klarob NuiCafeboran def. Omar “Ironside” El Halabi by Unanimous Decision
Bantamweight Muay Thai: Kulabkaw Luksingnamchai def. Meshal Alsaeed by TKO, Round 2, 1:15
Featherweight MMA: Go Todoroki def. Alexandre Khan by KO, Round 1, 3:21
Flyweight Muay Thai: Sunvo Torfunfarm def. Khundet PK Saenchai by KO, Round 3, 2:28
Featherweight Submission Grappling: Phatiphan Arthinkong def. J Han by Unanimous Decision
Lightweight MMA: Min Sung Kang def. Yusei Iwakura by KO, Round 2, 2:07
Watch
Joshua Pacio Post-Fight Interview
Shozo Isojima Stops Eduard Folayang – Co-Main Event Highlight
ONE Championship returns to Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, July 17, for The Inner Circle 22 and ONE Friday Fights 162. Stay with Real Combat Media for continuing coverage.
COMMENTS
English