Anatoly "Sladkiy" Malykhin has never been one to shy away from a bold promise, and as he prepares for his long-awaited return to the ONE Championship ring, the Russian powerhouse is making his intentions crystal clear: "I will finish him."
After months of waiting, the two-division MMA king is finally set to step back into the spotlight at The Inner Circle this Friday, May 15. The event, streaming live from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium on live.onefc.com, features a blockbuster rematch that fans have been eagerly anticipating. Malykhin will challenge reigning ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion "Reug Reug" Oumar Kane for the division's crown in the night's main event.
The road to this rematch hasn't been smooth. Originally scheduled for ONE 173 in Tokyo last November, the bout was postponed after the Senegalese champion was involved in an unexpected car accident in Dubai. For most fighters, such a delay might derail momentum or create mental hurdles. But Malykhin—already the reigning ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight MMA World Champion—took the extra time as an opportunity to sharpen his already devastating arsenal.
"For me, delays are nothing unusual," Malykhin said. "Whether 'Reug Reug' got injured or something else happened, it doesn't really change anything for me. I just keep training, keep preparing, and keep living my dream. I'm always in shape. Martial arts is my life."
His relentless mindset sets him apart. "I'm not the kind of fighter who only trains for a fight and then relaxes when there's no opponent. I don't switch off. I stay focused all the time. For me, it's simple—I truly love what I do."
The stakes couldn't be higher. When Malykhin and Kane first clashed at ONE 169 in November 2024, they delivered an unforgettable 25-minute war that ended in a razor-close split-decision verdict favoring the Senegalese wrestling sensation. That result marked the very first blemish on the Russian's professional record and stripped him of his heavyweight MMA crown—and his status as a three-division champion.
Now, with redemption on his mind and a knockout in his sights, Malykhin is ready to reclaim what's his. "I will finish him," he promises. And for fans of explosive finishes and championship drama, this Friday night in Bangkok is one you won't want to miss.