Anatoly Malykhin has earned the respect and admiration of Islam Makhachev following the Russian hard-hitter’s historic milestone.
The unprecedented feat unfolded in his epic rematch against Reinier de Ridder at ONE 166: Qatar last Friday, March 1.
Already holding the ONE Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight MMA World Championships, “Sladkiy” added another feather to his cap by beating “The Dutch Knight” to capture the middleweight crown.
This remarkable accomplishment etched Malykhin’s name in the annals of MMA history. In fact, it made him the first athlete to hold three World Titles in separate weight classes at the same time.
Makhachev, the reigning UFC Lightweight World Champion, took to Instagram to praise his compatriot for the rare achievement.
“Most dangerous guy [on] the planet,” Makhachev wrote.
The third-round TKO victory over De Ridder marked Malykhin’s 14th consecutive win. It also helped him maintain his flawless professional record and 100 percent finishing rate.
