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MMA star Mansur Malachiev wants to inspire the next generation to be positive with his martial arts career

Mansur Malachiev's sporting dreams have taken him from life in a small village in Russia to the spotlight of the ONE Championship.

On October 4th in primetime in the USA, the #5 ranked MMA contender in the world will face #2 ranked Bokang “Little Giant” Masunyane at ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II and look to get closer to his chances at a world title.

Malachiev's desire to be a good role model has paved his way onto the world martial arts stage and he hopes to deliver another inspirational performance at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Find out about the 32-year-old's journey ahead of this high-profile clash next month.

A happy childhood in Dagestan

Malachiev was born in Zabutli-Miatli, a village in the Dagestan region. His parents ran a grocery store in the mountainous region, which is home to fewer than 5,000 people.

He looks back fondly on his childhood, when he spent a lot of time in nature:

“There are four children in the family. My older brother, two younger sisters and me. I had a good relationship with my parents. Of course there were times when we had problems, but I think we were a happy family.”

“I was a shy child. My favorite activities as a child were swimming in the river with friends, and I also went fishing with my father and grandfather.”

The boy thrived in the classroom with many friends and preferred to avoid confrontations while pursuing his studies.

He said:

“School was a wonderful time! Most of my classmates were good friends. I did quite well in school.

“To be honest, I didn't like fighting as a child. I always tried to resolve conflicts without getting into fights.”

Taking up the national sport

Like many children in Dagestan, Malachiev started wrestling at a young age and after just one session he knew it was a perfect fit for him.

However, given the popularity of the sport in the region – some of the world's best wrestlers hail from the “Land of the Mountains” – the level of competition meant that Malachiev had to devote himself full-time to his craft.

He explained:

“After my first training session at around 8 years old, I knew I wanted to do sports. My parents supported me completely. Training really helps you feel the fullness of life.

“I took part in my first competitions at school. I remember coming second once. That motivated me to work even harder and train even more.”

Despite his natural talent, Malachiev almost gave up wrestling when he finished school and real life got in the way.

He moved to the city to work, but there he discovered MMA and embarked on a new journey:

“There was a time when I gave up the sport and moved to the capital of Dagestan, Makhachkala, to work. After some time, about two years, I decided to start training again to stay in shape and improve my striking technique, since there was an MMA gym near my workplace.”

Successful in MMA

Malachiev took to mixed martial arts well and his new coach quickly recognized his potential.

The rising star won several regional titles in both MMA and Combat Sambo and decided to move up to the professional league to see how far he would go:

“The coach noticed my progress and suggested that I compete at a more serious level. In 2014 I had my first professional fight.

“I realized that I was good at it, which gave me additional confidence. The support of my family and friends was a huge motivation to continue improving my skills.”

Nevertheless, it was not an easy time for the native Zabutli-Miatli, who had to carry on after the death of his father.

He recalled:

“The death of my father was a very difficult time for me. I was very attached to him. He always supported me and was always by my side.

“The only thing left for us is to accept what has happened as an inevitable part of our lives, as something given to us from above and that we cannot change.”

Become a positive role model on the world stage

With a perfect record of 10-0 on the Russian tour, Malachiev signed a contract with the largest combat sports organization in the world in 2023.

He made his ONE debut with a submission win over Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado, then rebounded from his only career loss to current ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio with a win over former King Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta.

Now one of the top five in his league, Malachiev wants to not only succeed on the world stage for his own sake, but also to have a positive influence in a world where there is also a lot of negativity.

He added:

“In these difficult times, I want to be a role model for the younger generation. I hope that young people can lead an active and healthy lifestyle, look up to athletes and be inspired by theologians and virtuous people.

“I strive to be such a role model myself and to serve as a motivation for them.”

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