“Daddy hasn’t done a proper job” - Anatoly Malykhin’s emotional message to son after losing belt to ‘Reug Reug’

Former triple champ and current reigning ONE light heavyweight and middleweight MMA world champion 'Sladkiy' Anatoly Malykhin of Russia lost his heavyweight MMA gold in 2024.

But more than letting himself down, the 36-year-old Kemerovo native was disappointed to let his son down. Malykhin, at his core, is a family man. And he takes pride in fighting for his family on the global stage in the world's largest martial arts organization.

In a recent appearance on Red Corner MMA, it was revealed what an emotional Malykhin told his son after losing the belt.

'Sladkiy' said:

"Tonight, daddy hasn’t done a proper job. Tonight, my sunshine, your dad didn’t do it the way he should have."

Malykhin lost a close split decision to Senegalese wrestling sensation Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane at ONE 169 on Prime Video last November, surrendering the ONE heavyweight MMA world championship in the process.

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Anatoly Malykhin describes rollercoaster of emotions following loss to 'Reug Reug': "Everything feels different"

He was on top of the world, but after a harrowing defeat to Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane last year, 'Sladkiy' Anatoly Malykhin put his life into perspective.

The 36-year-old described what he felt in the moment following the aftermath of the loss to 'Reug Reug'.

He told Red Corner MMA:

"Here, everything feels different. And that’s a feeling a lot of veterans keep coming back for. Because it’s like a little but very intense life. Within those few hours, you experience such a wide range of emotions. Fear, anxiety, joy, love. You start appreciating the love of other people ten times more. Those feelings are impossible to describe."

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding Anatoly Malykhin's next fight.