After growing up in the small industrial city of Kemorovo, Russia, Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malyhin can now call himself the king of the world after he made history at ONE 166: Qatar this past Friday, 1 March.
By beating Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder, Malykhin did something that no one else in the history of mixed martial arts has done – he now holds three different World Titles simultaneously in the heavyweight, light heavyweight and middleweight divisions.
It’s an achievement that remains surreal for Malykhin, even after achieving it.
“It’s difficult to express with words how I feel right now. I come from a very small town back in Russia and my friends here can witness that. Being not only a three-division champion but also a father, it’s an absolute honor. I don’t have the words to express it,” he said.
For the jovial Russian, he wouldn’t have been able to reach this position without his ever-supportive wife Anita – who also stands as his manager – at his side.
In fact, “Sladkiy” thanked her for believing in him since he was a nobody in mixed martial arts.
“It’s very hard to believe that together with my wife, when I started this dream, we moved to Thailand. And she was the person that sold everything she had because she believed in me. She believed in my dream,” he said.
Now it’s time to continue living that dream.
With three ONE World Titles firmly hoisted around his shoulders (and waist), the only question is which belt will he defend first.
Perhaps it’s the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title. And with fans still clamoring for a superfight between him and Francis Ngannou, Malykhin is more than willing to welcome him into the ONE Circle.
He’s also confident that he’ll put him to sleep should they meet.
“I have the best trainer in the world in boxing (John Hutchinson), therefore [Ngannou] doesn’t stand a chance,” he said.
“It’s been nothing but hard work for the past three years. Every day Jonny calls me at 4am and says, ‘Hey Anatoly wake up! Let’s go champ, let’s go!’ At 4am! He’s a crazy coach. I love this guy.”