The 3 greatest weapons in three-division MMA king Anatoly Malykhin's arsenal
Reigning ONE heavyweight, light heavyweight, and middleweight MMA world champion Anatoly Malykhin is truly one of a kind.
The larger-than-life Russian is indeed an anomaly in the mixed martial arts realm, as his combination of size, speed, and strength is simply unmatched.
'Sladkiy' has never tasted defeat in 14 career bouts, including an extraordinary 100 percent finishing rate.
Malykhin will look to keep that streak alive in the main event of ONE 169, where he'll defend his heavyweight MMA crown against 'Reug Reug' Oumar Kane on Nov. 8 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
That said, let's break down what makes Anatoly Malykhin one of the most feared warriors in the game today.
1. Concussive right hand
Malykhin's missile-like right hand may just be the greatest equalizer in combat sports.
Early in his career, the Russian wrestler didn't have much of a striking background but still found success with those looping overhand and hooks that put even the toughest fighters to sleep.
Once the 36-year-old partnered up with renowned trainer John Hutchinson, it was over for the opposition. 'Sladkiy's boxing skills increased tenfold and he now uses slick jabs and feints to set up his most deadly weapon.
2. Elite wrestling
Wrestling is known as the hardest sport there is, so it's not surprising that Malykhin's toughness is otherworldly as well. The three-weight champ loves to use his heavy hips to keep the fight standing with his sprawl and brawl style.
Notably, Malykhin has never been taken down in the world's largest martial arts organization, defending 11 out of 11 attempts.
The One Chance Team and Tiger Muay Thai product also have every takedown imaginable in his arsenal, using trips, slams, and deep shots to dictate where the fight goes.
3. Punishing ground and pound
What makes Anatoly Malykhin extremely dangerous is his desire to erase the judges from the equation at all times.
Malykhin also loves to take the fight to the ground and he throws destructive yet highly accurate ground and pound to break his opponents down.
Once the Russian behemoth gets his prey pinned, he unleashes a torrent of heavy punches, hammer fists, and elbows to get the W.