Anatoly Malykhin emerges victorious.
The undefeated Russian fighter, Anatoly Malykhin, finally had the opportunity to face the undisputed heavyweight champion, Arjan Bhullar, at the ONE Championship event held in Bangkok, Thailand. Malykhin, holding the interim belt, showcased his dominance by securing a third-round TKO, effectively unifying the titles.
Right from the start, Bhullar’s strategy was evident – to utilize his wrestling skills and neutralize Malykhin’s powerful strikes. However, Malykhin successfully fended off Bhullar’s attempts and delivered impactful strikes to the body. Eventually, in the third round, Malykhin overwhelmed Bhullar with a series of ground-and-pound strikes, compelling the referee to halt the bout. This impressive performance earned Malykhin an additional $50,000 in bonus rewards.
With this victory, Malykhin now holds two championships simultaneously in ONE Championship: the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions. In his post-fight interview, he expressed his desire to pursue the middleweight belt currently held by Reinier de Ridder. Notably, Malykhin previously handed de Ridder his first defeat in MMA with a first-round knockout in December 2022.
In another notable fight on the card, Shamil Erdogan secured a knockout victory over Rong Fan with a powerful body kick.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Champ-champ status
Q: Who won the fight between Anatoly Malykhin and Arjan Bhullar at ONE Championship?
A: Anatoly Malykhin emerged as the winner, claiming a knockout victory over Arjan Bhullar to become the champ-champ and unify the heavyweight belts.
Q: Where did the fight between Malykhin and Bhullar take place?
A: The fight took place at a ONE Championship event in Bangkok, Thailand.
Q: Did Malykhin hold any titles before the fight?
A: Prior to the fight, Malykhin held the interim belt in the heavyweight division.
Q: What was Bhullar’s strategy during the fight?
A: Bhullar’s strategy was to rely on his wrestling skills to neutralize Malykhin’s striking power and slow down the pace of the fight.
Q: How did Malykhin secure the victory?
A: Malykhin prevented Bhullar’s wrestling attempts and landed significant strikes to the body. In the third round, he overwhelmed Bhullar with heavy ground-and-pound, leading the referee to stop the bout and declare Malykhin the winner by TKO.
Q: What did Malykhin achieve with this victory?
A: With this victory, Malykhin became the undisputed champion in both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions at ONE Championship.
Q: Will Malykhin pursue another title in a different weight class?
A: Yes, Malykhin expressed his intention to pursue the middleweight belt currently held by Reinier de Ridder after defeating him in a previous fight.
Q: Were there any other notable fights on the card?
A: Yes, Shamil Erdogan delivered a knockout victory over Rong Fan with a powerful body kick in another notable fight on the card.
More about Champ-champ status
- ONE Championship Official Website
- Anatoly Malykhin’s Profile on ONE Championship
- Arjan Bhullar’s Profile on ONE Championship
- Reinier de Ridder’s Profile on ONE Championship
- ONE Championship Events Schedule
3 comments
ONE Championship always brings the heat! Another epic night of fights in Bangkok, Thailand. Malykhin is a force to be reckoned with, and Erdogan’s body kick knockout was brutal. Can’t wait for the next event!
whoa! Anatoly malykhin is a true champ-champ now!! unifiying the belts in heavyeight divishion is no joke. can’t wait to see him go after that middleweight belt. Reinier de Ridder better watch out!
Arjan Bhullar had a tough night, man. he tried his wrestlin’ but Malykhin was just too much for him. malykhin’s strikes were sick! the ref had no choice but to stop the fight. impressive win!