![(left) Anatoly Malykhin and (right) Reinier de Ridder at ONE on Prime Video 5 [Credit: ONE Championship/Instagram @anmalykhin]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/12/6a56e-16704740917911-1920.jpg)
![(left) Anatoly Malykhin and (right) Reinier de Ridder at ONE on Prime Video 5 [Credit: ONE Championship/Instagram @anmalykhin]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Newly-crowned two-division world champion Anatoly Malykhin chose not to be involved with the official’s late stoppage on Reinier de Ridder last Friday.
After a grueling back-and-forth battle between the two world-class champions, Reinier de Ridder ultimately succumbed to Malykhin’s heavy right hooks and brutal hammer fists in the first round.
The Dutchman was already unconscious before Malykhin delivered the last couple of shots to his chin. Fan footage showed de Ridder getting medical attention before being stretchered out of the stadium. The circumstances opened the debate on whether or not there was a late stoppage on the official’s part.
When Anatoly Malykhin was asked if he had any comments about the late KO stoppage, he said:
“I think de Ridder is a really strong fighter so he could have fought until the very last minute of it and it's not my job to stop the fight. I'm just here to finish it and give my all as long as I can so yeah, it's not my job. I'm just going to fight him and do what I do best.”
Hours later, Reinier de Ridder responded to his fans’ concerns over his health with a 30-second Instagram story that read:
“I’m ok sweet people. Took a chance and it didn’t work out well this time. Life is still good. Happy to be going back home to my wife and kids 😘.”
Anatoly Malykhin is done with Arjan Bhullar, calls him “weak”
Anatoly Malykhin is done playing games with Arjan Bhullar at the moment as he’s set on capturing the middleweight gold next.
The reigning ONE heavyweight world champion Arjan Bhullar has stayed out of the competition for some time now. He opted out of the unification bout against Malykhin last September, citing an injury that required surgery.
'The Dutch Knight' Reinier de Ridder also expressed frustration in regards to the Indo-Canadian fighter's constant delay and excuses.
Understanding that one can’t quite count on Bhullar’s return, the Russian powerhouse said he might as well plan his middleweight debut.
In his post-fight interview, Anatoly Malykhin said:
“He’s [Arjan Bhullar] just weak. He doesn’t deserve to be in ONE Championship, because it just happens every single time, so I’m gonna do the next fight at 93 kilos [middleweight].”
Watch Malykhin's post-fight interview below:
