Anatoly Malykhin has once again ascended to the pinnacle of ONE Championship, securing a triumphant victory over his previous conqueror, Reug Reug. In a highly anticipated rematch, Malykhin delivered a decisive performance, stopping his opponent in the fourth round by strikes to reclaim the heavyweight championship. This victory marks Malykhin’s second reign as heavyweight king and solidifies his status as a three-division champion, as he also holds the light heavyweight and middleweight belts within the promotion.
Beyond reclaiming the heavyweight title, Malykhin also earned a $100,000 bonus. This momentous win served as a form of redemption for Malykhin, who had previously lost a decision to Oumar Kane (Reug Reug) at ONE 169 in November 2024, a fight that saw Reug Reug claim the ONE crown. With Malykhin’s decision to retire, it effectively leaves three divisions without a reigning champion, a development that has sparked considerable discussion within the ONE Championship community, particularly in light of recent sentiments suggesting a reduced focus on mixed martial arts by the promotion.
Anatoly Malykhin’s Retirement Shocks Fans
Anatoly Malykhin’s announcement of his retirement from mixed martial arts immediately after his victory sent shockwaves through the fanbase. Reactions on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) highlighted a range of emotions and opinions:
“Well he is 38 yo and just avenged his only loss, correct thing to do,” commented @ChaelPSonnen18, suggesting Malykhin’s decision was logical and timely.
However, others expressed concern about the implications for ONE Championship’s MMA divisions. @MoloneyBilly remarked, “That’s perfect for ONE they ain’t interested in MMA anyway, gives them a reason to remove more fighters,” echoing a sentiment that the promotion might de-emphasize MMA further.
The sentiment of uncertainty was palpable. @MrKnight_gg jokingly mused, “LMAO Chatri gotta be crashing out,” referring to ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong. Meanwhile, @JNEW105 declared, “One championship is f***ing doomed. That just vacated 3 divisions. DJ and now Anatoly are gone, they have no star power. They are DONE.”
The feeling of instability was further reinforced by @Nisanth_2711, who stated, “One is so cooked, I think this is where they call it off lmao.” Even the reaction of the interviewer was noted, with @robwetts observing, “The interviewers face turned pale as a ghost when he said that lmaoooo ONE mma is so done.”
Amidst the concern, some found humor in the situation. @alazarusenvy02 commented, “Funniest mma company of all time,” suggesting the ongoing narrative around ONE Championship’s structural decisions and athlete movements is increasingly becoming a spectacle.
