- George Chung
- Nov 18, 2024
- 2 min read
Anatoly Malykhin, once hailed as the undefeated titan of ONE Championship with three division titles under his belt, faced the unthinkable at ONE 169. In a grueling five-round battle, Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane dethroned the Russian star to claim the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Championship, delivering one of the biggest upsets in recent memory.
Despite meticulous preparation, Malykhin admitted his performance fell short on the night it mattered most. “The training camp was solid. We trained well and did everything as planned, but on the day of the fight, I just didn’t feel physically at 100 percent,” Malykhin confessed. “Sometimes it’s hard to explain, but my body just wasn’t right that morning. It was his day. He’s a strong guy, and he did his job well.”
Kane’s incredible power and persistence proved to be too much for the formerly unstoppable “Sladkiy.” Malykhin struggled with heavy arms, depleted stamina, and failed takedown attempts as he battled the Senegalese juggernaut. “My hands and arms felt too heavy. I ran out of steam. I tried to take him down, but it didn’t work out,” he added. “My body just didn’t respond the way I wanted it to. He won, so I’ll take that as a signal to train harder.”
The defeat marked the first blemish on Malykhin’s previously unbroken record in ONE Championship. After dominating across three weight classes, the toll of moving divisions finally caught up with him. However, the Russian powerhouse isn’t dwelling on the loss. Instead, he’s strategizing for a stronger comeback.
“I’m starting again [now]. I’ll be doing wrestling, boxing, and definitely adding some strength training. My legs feel weaker from moving up and down between weight classes, so I need to work on that,”
Malykhin revealed. “I think I need to focus more on wrestling, too. I’m planning to go to Southern Ossetia to train with some heavyweight freestyle wrestlers. There are a lot of top-tier athletes there, and I think it’ll help me sharpen my skills.”
As he reflects on his performance, Malykhin is determined to learn from his mistakes. A rematch with Kane looms on the horizon, though nothing is confirmed. “I hope [the rematch] happens soon, but it isn’t confirmed yet. It’s still about 50-50,” he said.
The animosity between the two remains professional but intense. While there’s mutual respect as athletes, the rivalry is far from over. “It’s all about the sport, and our relationship is purely professional.
His hand got raised that night, but we both still want to be ONE World Champions. We’re both aiming to be at the top, so we definitely didn’t become friends,” Malykhin commented.
Fans eagerly await Malykhin’s next move as he vows to rise stronger, ready to reclaim his throne in ONE Championship. Will this setback be the spark that ignites his greatest comeback yet? Stay tuned!
