Anatoly Malykhin made history by becoming a three-division World Champion, but he says there are still higher goals to reach. At ONE 166: Qatar earlier this month, “Sladkiy” defeated Reinier de Ridder to claim the ONE Middleweight MMA World Championship to add to his light heavyweight and heavyweight MMA straps.

It was the second time that Malykhin put an “L” on De Ridder’s record. However, instead of a quick finish, they went through three rounds in their rematch as “The Dutch Knight” posed an even greater threat in his natural weight class.

Anatoly Malykhin had a “sharper” opponent

In an interview with ONE, he recalled how the Combat Brothers representative was different this time around and offered a path for his rival to get a trilogy fight with him at middleweight. “This was a different Reinier to the one who weighed 102 kilos [225 pounds].”

He was very strong and very motivated [at 205 pounds]. He improved his punching technique and became more dangerous and sharper,” he said. “Of course, I didn’t have any big problems, but Reinier hit me once and rattled me. It felt like he knocked me down a little bit.”

“It was the first time in my career that I have been dropped, and the hardest part was to get back into the fight and win,” he continued. “I think he’s a solid fighter. He still deserves another chance, but first, he needs to do two fights and get on a winning streak.”

“And I need a heavyweight fight, then one at light heavyweight, and then I’m ready for a middleweight trilogy. This feud is not over.” Apart from his history-making feat, Malykhin also improved his record to a pristine 14-0, with all his wins not reaching the judges’ scorecards

A fighter who finishes all his opponents

In conquering the middleweight MMA belt, the One Chance Team representative did what no one had done before him. However, he says he doesn’t intend to stop there as he wants to do more impossible feats.

Also Read: Anatoly Malykhin Believes Rustam Yunusov “Will Be Very Hard to Stop” in His Rise to the Top of Muay Thai World

“For me, this win does not make history. It’s always been clear I can do things in sports that no one else has ever done. I think history will be made when we get four belts and one more in boxing. Then we’ll make history. But, for now, this is just the beginning of our journey,” he said.

Also Read: Fights to Make for Three Division ONE Champion, Anatoly Malykhin After His Performances at ONE 166