Anatoly Malihin made history by becoming the first fighter to simultaneously hold titles in three weight classes in a major MMA organization. He achieved this milestone by compelling Reinier de Ridder to retire in the third round of their match at the ONE Championship 166 event in Qatar on Friday.
Malihin is currently the titleholder of the middleweight (205 pounds), light heavyweight (225 pounds), and heavyweight (265 pounds) belts in the ONE Championship.
During the fight, the Russian fighter dominated De Ridder by skillfully avoiding takedown attempts and delivering powerful right-hand punches. Despite De Ridder’s efforts to keep Malihin at a distance with push kicks and landing an early right-hand blow, Malihin’s attack proved to be more effective.
In the third round, De Ridder attempted a takedown, but Malihin defended it easily and responded with a devastating knee strike to De Ridder’s head, which is permissible under ONE rules. Although De Ridder struggled to get back up, even with a pause in the action by the referee Herb Dean, Malihin was declared the winner by technical knockout.
Currently boasting a flawless record of 14-0 with 14 finishes, including two victories over De Ridder, the 36-year-old Russian fighter has secured six consecutive wins since joining the ONE Championship in 2021, with half of them ending in under five minutes.
For detailed results of the ONE 166 event, click here.
