“Those are the names I’m interested in” - Anatoly Malykhin lists three heavyweight challengers who deserve a shot at his throne
Reigning three-division ONE MMA world champion Anatoly Malykhin has three names on his heavyweight hit list.
After claiming the light heavyweight and undisputed heavyweight MMA world titles, 'Sladkiy' returned to the Circle at ONE 166 in Qatar. There, he dispatched Reinier de Ridder, taking the Dutchman's middleweight MMA world title in the process and etching his own name in the history books as the first fighter to hold three divisional titles simultaneously.
Already looking ahead to his first defense of the heavyweight crown, Anatoly Malykhin has three big names in mind for his first defense.
"Yes, I'm looking at three guys in the heavyweight division - they're [Amir] Aliakbari, 'Reug Reug' [Oumar Kane] nand Ben 'Vanilla Thunder' Tynan, who recently challenged me," Malykhin told ONE Championship. "Those are the names I'm interested in."
The one fresh in the minds of ONE Championship fans is Ben Tynan. Making his sophomore appearance for the promotion at ONE Fight Night 21, 'Vanilla Thunder' scored a thunderous first-round TKO over Aussie Duke Didier, establishing himself as a legitimate contender in the weight class.
Amir Aliakbari and 'Reug Reug' have more than earned their right to challenge Anatoly Malykhin
As intriguing as Malykhin vs. Tynan sounds, he's likely one or two wins away from a ONE world title opportunity. That leaves the other two names on Malykhin's list — Amir Aliakbari and Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane.
Aliakbari scored the biggest win of his career, besting former ONE heavyweight MMA world champion Arjan Bhullar at ONE 166. It was the Iranian powerhouse's third straight victory which includes knockouts of Dustin Joynson and Brandon 'The Truth' Vera.
Then there's 'Reug Reug,' a Senegalese wrestler with serious knockout power — just ask Alain Ngalani, Patrick Schmid, and Batradz Gazzaev. However, it was Kane's shocking unanimous decision victory over 17-time BJJ world champion Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida that ultimately put him on Anatoly Malykhin's radar.
Who do you think should be the first fighter to challenge 'Sladkiy' for his ONE heavyweight crown?