“That guy, one in a million” - Coach John Hutchinson reveals how his link up with three-division champ Anatoly Malykhin started
Three-division world champion Anatoly Malykhin's connection with his coach John Hutchinson could not have been more serendipitous. Hutchinson revealed in an interview with OG Fight Wear's Jim Hawthorne that he wasn't always Malykhin's main coach at Tiger Muay Thai.
It wasn't until UFC star Khalil Rountree Jr. needed a sparring partner that Hutchinson and Malykhin first worked together. Hutchinson said he was helping Rountree Jr. with his boxing when he suggested that the American fighter trains with Malykhin.
He said:
"That guy, one in a million. Anatoly, we’ve had five fights now, George Hickman was the head MMA coach at Tiger Muay Thai at the time. He asked me if I could help Khalil with his boxing, to which we clicked."
Hutchinson added:
"You know, it was good work, and I was looking for a bit of sparring so Anatoly sparred him. Then I went back and we worked. In no time, I was in my first camp with him."
That chance session ultimately led to Hutchinson becoming the main voice in Anatoly Malykhin's corner. With Hutchinson firmly entrenched as Malykhin's coach, the pair went on an unstoppable run that saw the Russian monster capture the ONE middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight MMA world titles.
Malykhin and Hutchinson have been inseparable since 'Sladkiy' made his ONE Championship debut against Alexandre Machado in 2021 at ONE: Fists of Fury II in Singapore.
Now going into their seventh fight together, Hutchinson will guide Malykhin in his defense of the ONE heavyweight MMA world title against the rampaging Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane in the main event of ONE 169.
Malykhin's world title defense goes down at the historic Lumpinee Stadium on Nov. 8. The entire ONE 169 card is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.
Anatoly Malykhin wants to be an inspiration for aspiring Russian athletes
Anatoly Malykhin knows his responsibility as a world champion extends beyond the cage. The three-division MMA world champion visited his hometown of Kemerovo in Russia to talk to aspiring martial artists in the region.
In an interview with ONE Championship, Malykhin said he hopes to inspire younger fighters and show them what's possible if they dedicate themselves to the sport. He said:
"As the champion of the world's best organization, I have a voice, and many kids want to hear my story, how I achieved my stories, the challenges I've faced, and the lessons I learned along the way."