Anatoly Malykhin believes he is the best mixed martial artist on the planet. With each passing match, it becomes harder to disprove the notion. After ONE 166: Qatar, the Russian has gold in ONE Championship‘s middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight division.
Anatoly Malykhin on Dream Fight with Francis Ngannou: “he doesn’t stand a chance”
“Sladkiy” pummeled Reinier De Ridder for over two rounds until the Dutchman could not reach his feet. The third-round TKO made the unbeaten Russian the first man to hold three World Titles simultaneously. Malykhin is a monster of a man with all the tools to be an iconic figure in the sport if his streak continues.
For many, the best possible match in the martial arts world would be Malykhin taking on Francis Ngannou. It is a bout that will most likely not happen, but still intrigues the mind. At the ONE 166 post-event press conference, the match was proposed to Malykhin, who had little doubt he would dominate Ngannou.
“I have the best trainer in the world in boxing [John Hutchinson]. Therefore, he doesn’t stand a chance,” Malykhin said.
Malykhin was not the only man to chime in on the hypothetical match. ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong also weighed in. Noting the Russian’s incredible skills and perfect finishing rate, Sityodtong was fully in the corner of his three-division World Champion.
“There’s no question Anatoly is the greatest heavyweight on the planet, full stop. Put aside different organizations and marketing. He has a 100 percent finish rate, one-punch KO power. He would take Francis Ngannou down and smash him. He’s an elite wrestler,” Sityodtong emphatically stated.
While Ngannou may not be next for Malykhin, many interested challengers await their shot to be the first man to knock “Sladkiy” from his perch. At ONE 166, one such man was Amir Aliakbari. The Iranian star scored another victory, inching him closer to a rematch with the Russian.
Whoever is next will have a tall order. Malykhin is not only perfect thus far in his career but has not been in much danger. His wrestling background and heavy hands have led him to the forefront of the sport. As a history-making figure, Malykhin’s legacy is ongoing but quickly becoming one to watch be written in real-time.
