For the past few years, Anatoly Malykhin has created a strong legacy for himself. In 2022, the Russian MMA star won his first ever undisputed professional title at ONE on Prime Video 5 when he starched then two-division champion Reinier de Ridder in a single round, taking the middleweight belt.
In his very next fight, he fought and knocked out Arjan Bhullar in 2023 to unify the company’s heavyweight titles after winning the interim heavyweight strap a year earlier. Then, in a history-making performance, Anatoly Malykhin crossed paths again with de Ridder in 2024, who held the light heavyweight championship, and for a second time, defeated the Dutchman by stoppage.