Anatoly Sergeevich Malykhin (Russian: Анатолий Сергеевич Малыхин; born January 11, 1988) is a Russian mixed martial artist and wrestler. Malykhin is signed to ONE Championship where he is the current Light Heavyweight World Champion, and Middleweight World Champion. He is the first fighter in history to win major MMA championships in three weight classes and the first to hold them simultaneously. A professional competitor since 2016, Malykhin has also competed for Fight Nights Global. As of March 17, 2024, he is ranked as the #14 light heavyweight in the world by Fight Matrix.[9]
Malykhin was born on January 11, 1988, in Kemerovo, Kemerovo Oblast, Soviet Union (now Russian Federation). He began wrestling in the fifth grade and won several youth championships.[12] In 2013, he won gold at the President Cup of Buryatia Republic in freestyle wrestling and placed third at the Russian national championship as a heavyweight.[5] Malykhin was later disqualified for two years because he did not appear for doping tests, which he claims was due to a misunderstanding.[12][13] In 2016, Malykhin competed in submission grappling, winning at the championships for the Kemerovo region and the Siberian Federal District to qualify for the All-Russian championships. Malykhin was the runner-up at the All-Russian championships,[7] qualifying for the UWW European championships. At the European grappling championships in July, Malykhin won gold in the 100+ kg division.[10][12][14][6]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
According to Malykhin, there were no prospects for wrestlers in his native Kemerovo, despite the fact that the city had many good coaches and athletes. Malykhin was repeatedly invited to Moscow, where he met coach Vladimir Osiy, who became his mentor.[12]
Malykhin made his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in September 2016, defeating Ilya Gunenko in the first round. He would compete again three months later against Murad Kalimetov at Battle on the Volga Border 2016, winning the bout by submission.[14]
Amateur world championships
In May 2017, Malykhin competed at the Russian championship in amateur MMA, defeating Dagestani Salimgerey Rasulov. In October 2017, Malykhin competed at the WMMAA amateur world championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. He fought in the heavyweight (over 93 kg/205 lb) division, defeating Spanish fighter Oswaldo Gil and Greek fighter Athanasios Barkas to qualify for the final, where he defeated Uzbek fighter Azamat Bahodurzoda by technical knockout (TKO) to become a world champion.[3][12][8]
Return to professional competition
Malykhin returned to professional MMA on November 3, 2017, against Reza Torabi. He successfully used ground-and-pound to win by TKO.[14]
Malykin won his next three bouts via submission in the first round against Michał Wlazło at Golden Team Championship 3, Magomedbag Agaev at Fight Nights Global 91, and Jake Heun at Absolute Siberian Championship 1. Malykin next competed on April 25, 2019, as part of Fight Nights Global 93, against Alexei Kudin. Despite Kudin's experience, Malykhin constantly imposed his fighting style on his opponent. In the second round, Malykhin took the bout to the ground, after which he inflicted a series of punches, leading the referee to stop the bout.[14]
Malykhin's last bout on the Russian scene took place on October 30, 2019. As part of the GTC 07 tournament, Malykhin faced Argentinean Lucas Elsina. In the first round, Malykhin took Elsina down and finished him with punches for a TKO stoppage.[12]
After his undefeated run on the Russian regional scene, Malykin signed with ONE Championship.[15]
ONE Championship
Malykhin made his promotional debut against Alexandre Machado on February 26, 2021, and aired on March 5, 2021, at ONE: First of Fury 2.[16] He won the fight via TKO (submission to punches) in the first round, having managed to pin Machado in a crucifix and proceed to connect elbows, forcing Machado to submit.[17]
The unification bout between Malykhin and Arjan Bhullar for the ONE Heavyweight World Championship was rescheduled for March 25, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 8.[30] However, the bout was removed from the event because of a shift in broadcaster commitments.[31] The bout was scheduled on July 15, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 12.[32] However, for unknown reasons, the bout was moved again to ONE Friday Fights 22 on June 22, 2023.[33] Malykhin won the fight via TKO in the third round to become the undisputed ONE Heavyweight Champion. This win also earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night award.[34][35]
Triple champion
Malykhin faced Reinier de Ridder in a rematch, this time for de Ridder's ONE Middleweight World Championship on March 1, 2024, at ONE 166.[36] Malykhin won the title by TKO in round three after de Ridder did not get up, becoming the first three-division champion in MMA history as well as the first to hold three championships simultaneously. The win also earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night award.[37]
In the first title defense at heavyweight, Malykhin faced Oumar Kane on November 9, 2024, at ONE 169.[38] He lost the title via split decision.[39]
Personal life
Malykhin and his wife, Anita, have a son, born in 2020.[40]
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