Johan Ghazali: Pressure Is on Diego Paez in Rematch

Johan Ghazali says he has nothing to lose and all the pressure sits on Diego Paez when the two flyweight Muay Thai strikers run it back at The Inner Circle 35 on Friday, October 16, in Bangkok, Thailand.

The rematch airs live from Lumpinee Stadium during Asia primetime, settling a score that has sat unresolved since Paez edged Ghazali by split decision at ONE Fight Night 32 in June 2025. That fight was close enough to argue either way, and Ghazali says he has spent more than a year picking it apart on film.

What Ghazali Learned From Watching The First Fight

Johan Ghazali believes the tape shows he landed the cleaner volume while Paez won on flash and footwork. "I feel like I landed more clean shots. I rushed in a bit too fast, and he was smart and took advantage of my hunger to win," Ghazali said. He singled out Paez's spinning attacks as more smoke than fire, saying only one spinning back kick actually connected cleanly. "I know the improvements I need to make. The first fight was very close, but honestly, I've never been more confident."

That self-scouting matters because the first meeting was a split decision, the kind of result that invites a stylistic adjustment rather than a complete overhaul. Ghazali isn't promising a new game plan. He's promising the same aggression with better timing, which puts the rematch's outcome on whether he can close distance without eating the counters that swung the first fight to Paez's scorecards.

Why Ghazali Thinks The Pressure Sits On Paez

Johan Ghazali argues that age and stakes favor him even if skill level is a coin flip. At 19, Ghazali points out he has far more time to recover from a second loss to the same opponent than the 32-year-old Paez does to avoid one. "He is a tough fighter who is hard to catch. But it doesn't concern me. I still feel like I'm the better fighter, and if you zoom out, the pressure is on him. I'm 19. I have nothing to lose," Ghazali said.

The form lines back him up somewhat. Paez has needed three straight down-to-the-wire fights to stay relevant in ONE, most recently dropping a narrow decision to Black Panther at ONE Fight Night 42 in April. Ghazali has gone 2-2 in that same stretch, beating Zakaria El Jamari and Ye Yint Naung before losing to Ramadan Ondash. Neither man is coming in red hot, but Ghazali's recent form at least includes finishes against ranked-caliber names, while Paez's last three have all gone to the cards.

Betting Angle

A split decision rematch like this one typically opens close, and nothing in either fighter's recent record suggests the gap has widened dramatically since June 2025. Bettors leaning Ghazali are essentially wagering that a 19-year-old with an extra year of experience closes the technical gap that let Paez win on the judges' cards last time. Bettors leaning Paez are betting that his timing and counters, which have now produced wins and losses in several razor-close fights, hold up again against the same aggressive blueprint. Given how tight the first fight was and how both men have traded wins and losses since, this reads as a true pick 'em on paper, and anyone backing Ghazali is also backing the idea that his self-scouting translates into fewer wasted exchanges rather than just more confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Johan Ghazali and Diego Paez fight again?

Johan Ghazali and Diego Paez meet in a flyweight Muay Thai rematch at The Inner Circle 35 on Friday, October 16, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Who won the first fight between Johan Ghazali and Diego Paez?

Diego Paez won the first meeting by split decision at ONE Fight Night 32 in June 2025, marking his first win in ONE Championship.

What are Johan Ghazali and Diego Paez's recent records?

Johan Ghazali has gone 2-2 since facing Diego Paez the first time, while Paez has lost three straight close fights, most recently to Black Panther at ONE Fight Night 42 in April.