The No. 3 prospect tested himself in his last outing at flyweight. That experiment against Sanzhar Zakirov revealed improved ground skills, but ended with a decision loss after three tough rounds. Now Masunyane falls back to where his blinding speed and explosive athleticism have always played best.
His 4-2 strawweight run includes a 37-second knockout against former title challenger Rene Catalan, who heralded his arrival as a legitimate threat. That finishing ability separated him from the division’s grinders and put him on the map.
Kurosawa represents the kind of challenge that confirms or destroys rankings. The 32-year-old Japanese veteran has a record of 20-4 and once reigned as Pancrase Strawweight Champion before ONE called.
Ryohei Kurosawa earned his spot thanks to the dominance of ONE Friday Fights
The Japanese competitor arrived at ONE Friday Fights on a five-fight winning streak and four finishes within two rounds. His debut in September against Jayson Miralpez showed exactly why the matchmakers took notice.
Kurosawa dominated for three rounds using sharp striking coupled with sharp submission instincts to earn a unanimous decision victory. The Filipino star could not solve the puzzle. And now Masunyane faces the same test, with championship implications.
Joshua Pacio holds the strawweight throne. But this fight could determine who is next in line, or if Kurosawa completely ruins the rankings conversation. The winner moves forward with momentum. The loser slides backward in a stacked division that doesn’t forgive many mistakes.
Masunyane needs this win to erase the flyweight stumble and prove he belongs among the top 125-pounders. Kurosawa needs to show that his Japanese success translates into global elite competition.
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