“It’s gonna be a lot of beatings” - Denis Puric expects a war of attrition against fellow heavy-hitter Elias Mahmoudi 

Denis Puric expects fists to fly when he meets Algerian standout Elias Mahmoudi.

After going three rounds with 'The Iron Man' Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE 167 in June, 'The Bosnian Menace' will return to martial arts' biggest global stage on Friday, Dec. 6 for a scrap with Mahmoudi at ONE Fight Night 26 on Prime Video.

Emanating from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Puric looks to climb back into the win column. However, the 39-year-old fan favorite knows that'll be no easy task when he takes on the heavy-hitting Mahmoudi.

Speaking with ONE Championship ahead of their high-stakes scrap inside the Mecca of Muay Thai, Puric believes the man who comes out on top will be the one who can take the most damage and keep going. Puric said:

“He’s on a streak. That’s okay. I feel like I’m on a streak, too. It just depends on who can last longer and take the beatings, ’cause it’s gonna be a lot of beatings."

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Elias Mahmoudi hopes for world title opportunity with win against Denis Puric

In the art of eight limbs, Denis Puric finds himself on a solid streak, winning three of his last four including back-to-back wins against Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat and Jacob Smith.

Elias Mahmoudi is in a similar position, going 3-1 in Muay Thai competition under the ONE banner while also picking up a kickboxing win over Taiki Naito earlier this year. When he steps inside the ring with Puric at ONE Fight Night 26, it'll be his first Muay Thai fight since a win over Edgar Tabares in August 2023.

Should he extend his streak against Puric, 'The Sniper' believes a shot at the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title could be right around the corner. Speaking to ONE, Mahmoudi said:

"My goal in 2025 is to take the world title in Muay Thai and win a maximum bonus in every fight. The world title would be the culmination of my career. It's in the biggest and best fighting organization in the world."

Fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 26 live on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, Dec. 6 in U.S. primetime.