After triple title, Anatoly Malykhin wants to fight twice in one night

21 March 2024

Anatoly Malykhin, adorned with a historic trio of belts in ONE Championship, asserts he's far from finished etching his name in the annals of combat sports history.

At 36, the ONE heavyweight, light heavyweight, and middleweight champion isn't contemplating adding a fourth title to his collection. However, he harbors an ambition unlike any seen in modern-era major champions.

"I have a crazy idea," Malykhin shared with MMA Junkie Radio. "I would like to fight two opponents in one evening. I would like to beat two athletes in one evening and create a new history. No one has ever done this before."

The undefeated Russian, boasting a pristine 14-0 record with six knockout victories under the ONE banner, continues to dominate in title fights. Just this month, he vanquished Reinier de Ridder for the second time in three encounters to clinch the middleweight (205 pounds in ONE) belt, having previously seized the light heavyweight title from him.

Malykhin envisions his next move should involve a bout for ONE Championship in the United States. And if the logistics of facing two opponents in one night can be resolved, he's all in.

"America would be a great place for the next card I'm on," he affirmed. "When I was a kid and I used to fight a lot on the street, I had an unbeaten record of 300-0. Nobody asked me on the street what my weight was."

ALSO READ | Aung La N Sang Eyes Showdown with Anatoly Malykhin for Title

ONE Championship's forthcoming event in the U.S. is slated for September in Denver, providing a potential stage for Malykhin's audacious endeavor.