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Across ONE’s back-to-back events in Manila this past weekend, it was Anatoly Malykhin who stole the headlines with his performance.
In the main event of ONE on Prime Video 5, the interim heavyweight champion handed then-light heavyweight world champion Reinier de Ridder his first loss via a devastating knockout to become a double titleholder.
The Russian’s size and power was too much for ‘The Dutch Knight’, who was getting hurt every time he was hit by his opponent. Once it was clear that de Ridder wasn’t going to be able to get the fight to the ground, he was in a world of trouble and Anatoly Malykhin wasted no time in continuing his streak of knockouts in ONE Championship.
In his post-fight interview, the new double champion said that he isn’t done with the Dutchman just yet and may come after his middleweight world championship next:
“So I'm going to do the next fight at 93 kilos. As I said earlier, I'm coming for all the belts so everyone should watch out and be careful.”
Watch the full interview below:
Whilst de Ridder may have bitten off more than he could chew in facing the interim heavyweight world champion, the consensus among fans is that he will still dominate the middleweight division.
Though it would seemingly be a very tough task for Anatoly Malykhin to drop another weight class, that would be a massive fight for both men.
3 opponents who could be next for Anatoly Malykhin
ONE Championship interim heavyweight world champion Anatoly Malykhin shocked the world at ONE on Prime Video 5. The Russian knocked out the previously undefeated two-division titleholder Reinier de Ridder in the opening round of their main event clash.
Now holder of the interim heavyweight crown and the light heavyweight world title, the Russian juggernaut has plenty of options open for who he could face in his first fight of 2023.
#3. Roman Kryklia
One of the great things about ONE Championship is we don’t have to exclusively look at MMA opponents. Malykhin could potentially go for a third world championship in a different sport.
Roman Kryklia won the ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing Grand Prix at ONE 163 by knocking out Iraj Azazipour. The Ukrainian now needs to find an opponent to compete with him for the inaugural world championship. Enter Malykhin, perhaps?
#2. Reinier de Ridder
Whilst Anatoly Malykhin may have walked right through Reinier de Ridder at ONE on Prime Video 5, the Dutchman still holds the middleweight world championship.
If Malykhin can make it to that weight class then another fight with de Ridder would be massive. With ‘The Dutch Knight’ having to face Malykhin again as he hunts for a third world championship, it would be even bigger than their first fight with even more intrigue thrown in thanks to both men fighting at a lower weight class than their initial fights.
#1. Arjan Bhullar
This fight has eluded us for so long, but if there’s an opportunity for it to happen, it needs to be now. Since winning the heavyweight world championship in May 2021, Arjan Bhullar hasn’t stepped back inside the circle.
After going through tough contract negotiations with ONE Championship, the promotion crowned an interim titleholder due to how long Bhullar had been out for.
Bhullar and Malykhin were set to unify the belts at ONE 161 in August, but Bhullar withdrew from the fight due to an injury, which led Anatoly Malykhin to his fight at light heavyweight against Reinier de Ridder.
