5 Things You Might Not Know About Anatoly Malykhin

Anatoly Malykhin throws heat even when he's goofing off at open workouts 👀#ONE166: March 1 at 7:30 a.m. ET ⁠
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch live on Prime⁠
🌏 Check local listings for global broadcast to 190+ countries⁠ pic.twitter.com/lm77JOGs6e

— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) February 29, 2024

Fascination unfolds—and justifiably so—when a fighter from the heavier weight classes boasts an undefeated record in a sport rife with pitfalls where one mere mistake can snuff out victory. Such is the nature of the game, and the career of Anatoly Malykhin, reigning two-division ONE Championship titleholder, serves as a glowing example of someone who has defied the traditional paradigm. The towering Russian is undefeated in his 13-fight professional career, and he has rattled off all of those victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

He is now set to take on an established nemesis in Reinier de Ridder in a clash that is destined to shake up the mixed martial arts world. The Russian prepares to redefine history by dropping down to the middleweight division in an attempt to become the first three-division ONE mixed martial arts champion. It is crystal clear in the promotional videos leading up to the fight that despite the previous decisive knockout victory over de Ridder for the 225-pound strap, Malykhin refuses to rely solely on his laurels and has left no stone unturned in preparation for the impending showdown.

With the stage set for the colossal rematch in the main event of ONE 166 this Friday at the Lusail Sports Arena in Lusail, Qatar, here are five things you might not know about Malykhin:

1. He built a legacy on the mat.

Malykhin’s grandfather introduced him to wrestling when he was young. He naturally gravitated toward the competitiveness of the sport, and the drive for competition piqued his interest. As a reward for his success, which included national medals, Malykhin earned the honorary title of Master of Sport in freestyle wrestling in his homeland. He won the bronze medal at the 2013 Russian championships. The same year, he also won gold at the President Cup of Buryatia Republic in freestyle wrestling and placed third at the Russian national championship in the heavyweight bracket. Following a hiatus of two years, he made his return in 2016. He competed in submission grappling, winning at the championships for the Kemerovo region and the Siberian Federal District to qualify for the All-Russian championships. The Russian stood as the runner-up at the All-Russian championships and subsequently qualified for the UWW European championships. Malykhin won gold in the 100+ kilogram division at the European grappling championships in July.

2. A revered coach served as his mentor.

Malykhin yearned for recognition following a successful grappling history, yet his hometown Kemerovo, with limited prospects, failed to nurture wrestling prodigies. The recognition of untapped potential led Malykhin’s path to intertwine with renowned coach Vladimir Osiy, an acclaimed figure in the realm of coaching brilliance in Russia. Osiy was celebrated as the mastermind behind five Russian fighters who clinched gold at the World MMA Championships in Astana. Under his tutelage, “Sladkiy” emerged as a force to be reckoned with, and his dominance echoed through the ranks between May and October in 2017.

3. He was influenced by an icon.

The ONE Championship two-division titleholder paid homage to MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko following his final fight against Ryan Bader at Bellator 290. While “The Last Emperor” called an end to an illustrious career that spanned over 20 years with a loss, the life and legacy of the MMA luminary are forever etched in the annals of sports history. Malykhin, recognizing the legacy, took to Instagram to honor his fellow countryman, wishing Emelianenko good health and a long life. He wrote the following: “The legend is gone. God bless him with health. Long years of life. To love his family and appreciate life. And I really want the future generation not to forget him and remember his contribution to mixed martial arts!”

4. He likes to test himself.

Malykhin has proven through his MMA journey that he is a monolithic force, and the aforementioned distinction of rattling all victories through finishes speaks volumes about the imposing shadow that has swept across all competition. With that said, he remains hungry for more and forever on the lookout for the next challenge. In the past, he expressed his desire to challenge former UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou, aiming to test his renowned strength firsthand. “I would like to meet Francis Ngannou, of course,” he said, “to see what he’s capable of, if he’s as strong as everyone thinks he is.”

5. He aims to pass on what he has learned.

Malykhin in August embarked on a soul-nurturing expedition back to his roots in Kemerovo, Russia. The 36-year-old humbly returned to his childhood wrestling school following the emphatic victory over de Ridder, reconnecting with friends and mentors who helped shape his path in combat sports. He also shared stories of modest origin while imparting wisdom and inspiration to the young wrestlers in attendance. “I am very glad that I came to my hometown of Kemerovo, where I was able to recharge myself with this Siberian strength, power and energy. I was also glad to see all my friends with whom I had trained before,” he said. “A lot of guys were happy to see me, and I was very happy to see them. We discussed some things, remembered some stories from childhood and youth and how we used to train.” The lessons he imparted to the young minds echoed through the gym: “When we were small and used to do long-distance running as part of training, I was already a heavy-built kid and, of course, could not run in the front. I was always the last or second-to-last one running. Still, my coach loved me very much, and in order not to belittle me, but on the contrary to cheer me up and help me, he ran ahead and always took bread with him. He had small squares of sliced bread, which he sprinkled with salt and buttered; and on the way, when the race was long, he fed me so that I had strength to run and energy. It was such a simple form of human care, and I have the warmest memories of that time.”