Anatoly Malykhin (Анатолий Малыхин), 36, of Mytishchi, Moscow Oblast, Russia has made history in Qatar. The undefeated mixed martial artist became the first ever three-division champion of ONE Championship, which is based in Singapore.
Born in Kemerovo, Russia, Malykhin made his professional MMA debut on September 17, 2016. On March 5, 2021, he made his ONE Championship debut.
On February 11, 2022, Malykin knocked out Kirill Grishenko at “ONE: Bad Blood” in Kallang, Singapore and became the interim ONE Heavyweight World Champion. It was Malykhin’s third ONE Championship win.
At the time, Reinier de Ridder of the Netherlands was the reigning champion of ONE Championship’s middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in MMA. He was also undefeated.
On December 3, 2022, Malykhin became the new ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion at “ONE on Prime Video 5” in Pasay City, Metro Manila by dethroning de Ridder via knockout. It was de Ridder’s first professional MMA loss.
On June 23, 2023, Malykin challenged then ONE Heavyweight World Champion Arjan Bhullar of India and Canada at “ONE Friday Fights 22” in Bangkok, Thailand. The Russian MMA fighter won via technical knockout.
In Malykhin and de Ridder’s rematch at “ONE: 166” in Lusail, Qatar on March 1, 2024, the Dutch MMA fighter’s ONE Middleweight World Championship belt was on the line. The Russian challenger won via TKO due to retirement.
“ONE: 166” is the first ever ONE Championship event held in Qatar. Malykhin did not vacate the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles before his rematch with de Ridder.
CONAN Daily 