"I was able to achieve one of my dreams" - Anatoly Malykhin relishes the opportunity to make a career doing what he loves

Reigning ONE heavyweight, light heavyweight, and middleweight MMA world champion Anatoly Malykhin deeply appreciates how he has made a career out of his undying passion for combat sports.

In an interview with ONE Championship, 'Sladkiy' stated:

"One of my dreams, I'm not saying it's something very high for me, it's just the work I love. Of course, there are other things like, for example, when I hug my son and my wife every day, I'm much happier than when I hug my belt, it's not comparable. But it's the work I love, and I'm very happy I was able to achieve one of my dreams, so to say."

Despite his happy-go-lucky demeanor outside the circle, Malykhin is as vicious as they come once the bell rings, as evidenced by his six finishes in as many fights in his ONE tenure.

The Golden Team fighter will look to add Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane to his list of victims when he defends the 265-pound MMA crown at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. 'Reug Reug' on Friday, Nov. 8, inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

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Anatoly Malykhin blasts 'Reug Reug' in latest callout

Anatoly Malykhin is hungry to exact his revenge against Oumar Kane at ONE 169 for calling him a fake champion many times over the past year.

In another interview with ONE, the 36-year-old said:

"They all call me a fake champion, but in the end, the belt is on me. And as for me running away from him — let's see who's running from whom on fight night. I'll stand in the center and throw punches, and he'll be wiping the corners of the ring, running away from me, just like all my previous opponents."

ONE 169 will air live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.