While Anatoly "Sladkiy" Malykhin remains one of ONE Championship's most dominant forces as a two-division MMA World Champion, the Russian powerhouse has revealed that his most important role happens outside the fighting arena – being a father to his 4-year-old son, Leo.
He recently opened up about watching his son develop an interest in martial arts, sharing glimpses of Leo's training sessions on social media. As Malykhin prepares for his next opportunity in the Circle, he's equally focused on setting the right example for his child.
"My son takes after his father. No matter what you say to a kid, he'll always watch what you do. Words don't mean much if your actions say something else. He sees what I'm doing and copies it," Malykhin said.
Malykhin beams with pride when discussing his son's natural abilities, noting Leo's exceptional strength and intelligence for his age. However, despite being one of MMA's most fearsome competitors, the 37-year-old fighter takes a surprisingly gentle approach to parenting.
"Of course, it feels good to see him getting into martial arts. He's very strong for his age, very smart. I'm curious to see what he'll achieve in life," Malykhin said.
Rather than pushing Leo toward a fighting career, Malykhin emphasizes allowing his son to discover his own path while providing unwavering support.
"Right now, he loves his training, and if he enjoys something, I support him. He's only 4, but I still listen to him. And if one day he tells me he doesn't like it, I won't force him. He'll find his own way," Malykhin said.
Despite his tremendous success in ONE, Malykhin believes in teaching his son the value of hard work and perseverance.
"I don't plan on giving him anything for free – no big gifts, no cars, no apartments. I want him to earn everything on his own. That's what I believe makes a man strong. When he walks his own path and can later look back and be proud of what he went through to get there. Hard times build character," Malykhin said.
As Malykhin continues his quest to reclaim the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title he recently lost to "Reug Reug" Oumar Kane, he remains equally invested in his son's future journey.
"I'm genuinely curious who he'll become and how his life will turn out. Since I plan to live to 100, I think I'll get to see it all," Malykhin said.
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