The Best Pictures From The Inner Circle 21
Relive the greatest moments from The Inner Circle 21 through the lenses of our ringside photographers.
By Vijay Kumar
Jul 11, 2026, 04:30 UTC
ONE Championship kicked off the second half of 2026 with The Inner Circle 21, featuring high-octane MMA and Muay Thai battles that had fans captivated from beginning to end.
The show emanated live in Asia primetime from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, this past Friday, July 10, and it was streamed exclusively via live.onefc.com. Four remarkable contests delivered an epic submission, a pair of jaw-dropping stoppages, and a thrilling decision result that showcased the best of world-class martial arts action.
In the main event, defending ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio displayed his dominance in a highly anticipated rematch. The Filipino king submitted Mansur Malachiev with a tight rear-naked choke in less than five minutes, proving once again why he remains one of the most decisive titleholders in ONE Championship.
That impressive World Title defense not only cemented his status atop the strawweight MMA division, but it also earned him a well-deserved US$50,000 bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
The co-main event provided a comeback moment, as Japanese judoka Shozo “Great Teacher” Isojima authored a stunning TKO victory over former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang. That performance marked Isojima’s return to the win column in emphatic fashion and marked the biggest triumph of his career.
Before we turn the page to The Inner Circle 22 on July 17, take a look at the best pictures from The Inner Circle 21, courtesy of our ringside photographers.
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