In a recent display of admiration, Islam Makhachev, the UFC Lightweight World Champion, hailed Anatoly Malykhin as the “most dangerous guy [on] the planet.” This commendation comes in the wake of Malykhin’s remarkable achievement at ONE 166: Qatar, where he made history. In an electrifying rematch against Reinier de Ridder last Friday, March 1, Malykhin clinched the middleweight crown, adding to his already impressive resume of holding the ONE Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight MMA World Championships. Makhachev took to Instagram to acknowledge his fellow Russian’s rare feat of becoming the first athlete to simultaneously hold three World Titles in different weight classes.

Malykhin’s third-round TKO win over De Ridder not only secured him his 14th straight victory but also helped him maintain an unblemished professional record with a 100 percent finishing rate. This impressive win streak has not gone unnoticed by ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, who recently awarded Malykhin a $50,000 bonus for his outstanding performance. This bonus is the fourth in a row for “Sladkiy,” dating back to his knockout victory over Kirill Grishenko in February 2022.

Sityodtong has openly recognized Malykhin’s exceptional prowess, boldly declaring him as the best heavyweight mixed martial artist globally. “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 and one-punch KO power,” Sityodtong asserted. This recognition from both Makhachev and Sityodtong underscores Malykhin’s formidable presence in the MMA world, marking him as a force to be reckoned with across weight divisions.