UFC Champ Islam Makhachev Sends Three-Division King Anatoly Malykhin Words of Praise

Anatoly Malykhin made history last weekend and the world clearly took notice. At ONE 166: Qatar, the Russian powerhouse became the first three-division MMA World Champion after he stopped Reinier de Ridder in the third round of their main event pairing to claim the ONE Middleweight MMA World Championship.

Malykhin’s spectacular feat was applauded by fight fans around the world, and one notable spectator offered high praise to “Sladkiy”. In an Instagram story, reigning UFC Lightweight World Champion Islam Makhachev shared a photo of Malykhin draped with three golden belts.

Anatoly Malykhin is not someone you want to mess with

“Most dangerous guy in the planet,” he wrote as a caption with the photo while tagging Malykhin. Hailing out of Dagestan, Russia, Makhachev has proven himself to be one of the most feared fighters in combat sports and is currently ranked as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. Dubbing Malykhin as the “most dangerous” speaks volumes on his fellow countryman’s accomplishment.

The One Chance Team and Tiger Muay Thai representative stopped the previously undefeated De Ridder twice in as many meetings to claim the ONE Light Heavyweight and Middleweight MMA World Titles. Prior to their two bouts, “The Dutch Knight” held a dominant 16-0 record and is one of the pound-for-pound best MMA grapplers today.

While he posed the most danger to Malykhin’s own pristine record – even rocking the 36-year-old with a punch-kick combination in their latest meeting – he could not take him to the ground and assert his game. In between his clashes with De Ridder, the Russian also became the undisputed ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion by silencing the first MMA World Champion of Indian descent, Arjan Bhullar with a third-round stoppage at ONE Friday Fights 22 last June.

Malykhin erased any doubts about his ability to compete at lower weight classes and showed everyone that he carries his power through all three divisions he reigns over now. Asked if he would be interested to go even lower at welterweight during ONE 166 post-event press conference, the fun-loving world champ responded by saying this: “Four belts? No. Christian Lee is the best fighter.”

3 belts is a lot to defend

Even without going for an almost impossible 4th belt, Malykhin will have his hands full with aspiring challengers for his current belts. Former two-division World Champion Aung La N Sang is currently on a three-fight win streak – all via knockout – and will no doubt be willing to have a crack at the new owner of the two belts he once held.

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Over at the heavyweight ranks, Senegalese beast “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane and Iranian powerhouse Amir Aliakbari have both been eager to challenge Malykhin’s reign and could truly be next in line for a shot at heavyweight gold. No matter who he faces though, Malykhin will definitely step in to prove why he is dubbed “the most dangerous guy on the planet.”

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