Russian mixed martial artist and wrestler
Anatoly Sergeevich Malykhin (Russian: Анатолий Сергеевич Малухин; born January 11, 1988) is a Russian mixed martial artist and wrestler. Malykhin is currently signed to ONE Championship where he is the Heavyweight World Champion and Light Heavyweight World Champion. He has also competed for Fight Nights Global. As of November 19, 2023, Malykhin is ranked as #21 heavyweight in the world by Fight Matrix.[9]
Malykhin is a Master of Sport in freestyle wrestling,[3][4] having won a bronze medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2013 Russian championship.[5] He is a European champion in submission grappling at the 2016 UWW European Championships[10] and is a 2017 WMMAA world champion in amateur mixed martial arts (MMA).[3][11]
Background
Malykhin was born on January 11, 1988, in Kemerovo, Kemerovo Oblast, Soviet Union (now Russian Federation). He began wrestling in the fifth grade and won several youth championships.[12] In 2013, he won gold at the President Cup of Buryatia Republic in freestyle wrestling and placed third at the Russian national championship as a heavyweight.[5] Malykhin was later disqualified for two years because he did not appear for doping tests, which he argues was due to a misunderstanding.[12][13] In 2016, Malykhin competed in submission grappling, winning the championships of the Kemerovo region and the Siberian Federal District to qualify for the All-Russian championships. Malykhin was the runner up at the All-Russian championships,[7] qualifying to represent his country at the European championships. At the European grappling championships in July, Malykhin won gold in the 100+ kg division.[10][12][14][6]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
According to Malykhin, there were no prospects for wrestlers in his native Kemerovo, despite the fact that the city had many good coaches and athletes. Malykhin was repeatedly invited to Moscow, where he met coach Vladimir Osiy, who became his mentor.[12]
Malykhin made his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in September 2016, defeating Ilya Gunenko in the first round. He would compete again 3 months later against Murad Kalimetov at Battle on the Volga Border 2016, winning the bout by submission.[14]
Amateur world championship
In May 2017, Malykhin competed at the Russian championship in amateur MMA, defeating Dagestani Salimgerey Rasulov. In October 2017, Malykhin competed at the WMMAA amateur world championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. He fought in the heavyweight (over 93 kg/205 lb) division, defeating Spanish fighter Oswaldo Gil and Greek fighter Athanasios Barkas to qualify for the final, where he defeated Uzbek fighter Azamat Bahodurzoda by TKO to become a world champion.[3][12][8]
Return to professional competition
Malykhin returned to professional MMA on November 3, 2017, against Reza Torabi. He successfully used ground-and-pound to win by TKO.[14]
Malykin won his next three bouts via submission in the first round against Michał Wlazło at Golden Team Championship 3, Magomedbag Agaev at Fight Nights Global 91, and Jake Heun at Absolute Siberian Championship 1. Malykin next competed on April 25, 2019, as part of Fight Nights Global 93, against Alexei Kudin. Despite Kudin's extensive experience, Malykhin constantly imposed his fighting style on his opponent. In the second round, Malykhin took the bout to the ground, after which he inflicted a series of punches, leading the referee to stop the bout.[14]
Malykhin's last bout on the Russian scene took place on October 30, 2019. As part of the GTC 07 tournament, Malykhin faced Argentinean Lucas Elsina. In the first round, Malykhin took Elsina down and finished him with punches, leading to a TKO stoppage.[12]
After his undefeated run on the Russian regional scene, Malykin signed with ONE Championship.[15]
ONE Championship
Malykhin made his promotional debut against Alexandre Machado on February 26, 2021, and aired on March 5, 2021, at ONE: First of Fury 2.[16] He won the fight via technical knockout (submission to punches) in the first round, having managed to pin Machado in a crucifix and proceed to connect elbows, against which Machado proceeded to surrender.[17]
Malykhin faced Amir Aliakbari on September 24, 2021, at ONE: Revolution.[18] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[19]
Interim ONE Heavyweight World Champion
Malykhin was scheduled to face Kirill Grishenko for the interim ONE Heavyweight World Championship on January 28, 2022, at ONE: Only the Brave.[20] However, Malykhin forced to withdraw withdrew due to tested positive for COVID-19 days before the event and the bout was moved to ONE: Bad Blood on February 11, 2022.[21] He won the fight via knockout in the second round.[22] This win earned him the $100,000 Performance of the Night award.[23]
Malykhin was scheduled to Arjan Bhullar for the ONE Heavyweight World Championship unification bout on September 29, 2022, at ONE 161.[24] However, Bhullar withdraw due to suffering an injury in training that required surgery and the bout was cancelled.[25][26]
Double champion
Malykhin faced Reinier de Ridder for the ONE Light Heavyweight World Championship on December 3, 2022, at ONE on Prime Video 5.[27] He won the fight via knockout in the first round and earned the title.[28] This win earned him his second prize of $100,000 Performance of the Night award.[29]
ONE Heavyweight Championship
The unification bout between Malykhin and Arjan Bhullar for the ONE Heavyweight World Championship was rescheduled for March 25, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 8.[30] However, the bout was removed from the event due to a shift in broadcaster commitments.[31] The bout was scheduled on July 15, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 12.[32] However, for unknown reasons, the bout was moved again to ONE Friday Fights 22 on June 22.[33] Malykhin won the bout via TKO in the third round to become the undisputed ONE Heavyweight Champion.[34][35]
Personal life
Malykhin and his wife Anita have a son named Lev, born in 2020.[36]
