Reinier de Ridder vs. Anatoly Malihin ONE 166 Ceremonial Weigh-in
Anatoly Malihin claimed the middleweight (205 lbs.) title after a dominant display against Reinier de Ridder, solidifying his legacy in ONE Championship history as a three-division champion (light heavyweight and heavyweight). The fight concluded with a TKO at 1 minute and 16 seconds into the third round, showcasing Malihin’s relentless pressure that eventually broke De Ridder’s resolve.
De Ridder started aggressively in the first round, landing significant shots with his left hand, but Malihin began to assert his dominance in the subsequent rounds by pinning De Ridder against the cage and delivering impactful strikes to the body. The third round saw Malihin continue his aggressive approach, leading to De Ridder attempting an unsuccessful takedown that exposed him to ground and pound, culminating in a knee strike to the head. Despite a last-ditch effort with a triangle choke, De Ridder was unable to overcome Malihin’s onslaught, leading to the referee stopping the fight as De Ridder could not continue.
This victory marks Malihin’s second win over De Ridder, following his initial triumph for the light heavyweight title with a first-round knockout in December 2022.
Unstoppable power💥#ONE166 #ONE Championship #mixed martial arts pic.twitter.com/lP63FgjHHf
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) March 1, 2024
