30 Facts About Anatoly Malykhin

Anatoly Sergeevich Malykhin is a Russian mixed martial artist and wrestler.

Anatoly Malykhin is the first fighter in history to win major MMA championships in three weight classes and the first to hold them simultaneously.

Anatoly Malykhin is a Master of Sport in freestyle wrestling, and won a bronze medal at the 2013 Russian championship.

Anatoly Malykhin won gold in submission grappling at the 2016 UWW European championships and is a 2017 WMMAA world champion in amateur mixed martial arts.

Anatoly Malykhin was born on January 11,1988, in Kemerovo, Kemerovo Oblast, Soviet Union.

Anatoly Malykhin began wrestling in the fifth grade and won several youth championships.

Anatoly Malykhin was later disqualified for two years because he did not appear for doping tests, which he claims was due to a misunderstanding.

In 2016, Anatoly Malykhin competed in submission grappling, winning at the championships for the Kemerovo region and the Siberian Federal District to qualify for the All-Russian championships.

Anatoly Malykhin was the runner-up at the All-Russian championships, qualifying for the UWW European championships.

Anatoly Malykhin was repeatedly invited to Moscow, where he met coach Vladimir Osiy, who became his mentor.

Anatoly Malykhin made his professional mixed martial arts debut in September 2016, defeating Ilya Gunenko in the first round.

Anatoly Malykhin would compete again three months later against Murad Kalimetov at Battle on the Volga Border 2016, winning the bout by submission.

In May 2017, Anatoly Malykhin competed at the Russian championship in amateur MMA, defeating Dagestani Salimgerey Rasulov.

In October 2017, Anatoly Malykhin competed at the WMMAA amateur world championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Anatoly Malykhin fought in the heavyweight division, defeating Spanish fighter Oswaldo Gil and Greek fighter Athanasios Barkas to qualify for the final, where he defeated Uzbek fighter Azamat Bahodurzoda by technical knockout to become a world champion.

Anatoly Malykhin returned to professional MMA on November 3,2017, against Reza Torabi.

Anatoly Malykhin made his promotional debut against Alexandre Machado on February 26,2021, and aired on March 5,2021, at ONE: First of Fury 2.

Anatoly Malykhin won the fight via TKO in the first round, having managed to pin Machado in a crucifix and proceed to connect elbows, forcing Machado to submit.

Anatoly Malykhin faced Amir Aliakbari on September 24,2021, at ONE: Revolution.

Anatoly Malykhin won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Anatoly Malykhin was scheduled to face Kirill Grishenko for the interim ONE Heavyweight World Championship on January 28,2022, at ONE: Only the Brave.

However, Anatoly Malykhin withdrew because of testing positive for COVID-19 days before the event, and the bout was moved to ONE: Bad Blood on February 11,2022.

Anatoly Malykhin won the fight via knockout in the second round.

Anatoly Malykhin was scheduled to Arjan Bhullar for the ONE Heavyweight World Championship unification bout on September 29,2022, at ONE 161.

Anatoly Malykhin faced Reinier de Ridder for the ONE Light Heavyweight World Championship on December 3,2022, at ONE on Prime Video 5.

Anatoly Malykhin won the fight via knockout in the first round and earned the title.

Anatoly Malykhin won the fight via TKO in the third round to become the undisputed ONE Heavyweight Champion.

Anatoly Malykhin faced Reinier de Ridder in a rematch, this time for de Ridder's ONE Middleweight World Championship on March 1,2024, at ONE 166.

Anatoly Malykhin won the title by TKO in round three after de Ridder did not get up, becoming the first three-division champion in MMA history as well as the first to hold three championships simultaneously.

Anatoly Malykhin and his wife, Anita, have a son, born in 2020.