Anatoly Malykhin reveals secret to success is good old-fashioned hard work: “There’s nothing special in it”

Former triple champ and current reigning ONE light heavyweight and middleweight MMA world champion 'Sladkiy' Anatoly Malykhin of Russia has emerged as one of the most successful combat sports fighters in the world today.

The Russian juggernaut has achieved unprecedented success in the world's largest martial arts organization. But the 36-year-old admits he's nothing special.

Malykhin credits his success to good old-fashioned elbow grease, hard work that he says he and his team put forth day in and day out.

He told Red Corner MMA in a recent interview:

"Who do we do this for? Obviously, first of all, we do it for ourselves, for ourselves, for our families, for a living. But after all [of that], we do it for our country, for the boys who support us over there, to let them see that everything is possible. There’s nothing special in it. Here we are, regular boys, regular Russian men, Dagestani men, Chechen men, Ingush men…here are all of them. Not one of us has 10 limbs. Everyone has two arms, two legs, one head."

Malykhin continues to reign atop the ONE Championship mountain as a two-division titleholder, but he hopes to get his heavyweight belt back soon.

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Anatoly Malykhin says staying humble is important in achieving greatness: "Don’t let it go to your head"

Anatoly Malykhin learned a tough lesson in humility last year when he dropped a close split decision to Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane and surrendered his heavyweight MMA gold.

The important thing is that Malykhin learned. He told Red Corner MMA:

"Everything is possible. In business too, in the fight game, everything. And even if you fail, as Buvaisar [Saitiev] said, 'don’t be down in the dumps, if you win, don’t let it go to your head either. Stick to the people who have been there for you and have got your back as they know you!' Keep cool and everything will be cool."