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Russian standout Mansur Malachiev is pretty confident that three-division king Anatoly Malykhin will come out on top in his upcoming heavyweight title defense.
Returning to martial arts' biggest stage on Friday, November 8, 'Sladkiy' will put his ONE heavyweight MMA world champion on the line against Senegalese sensation Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane in the ONE 169 headliner in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Fresh off his own big win in The Land of Smiles, Malachiev offered his take on next month's heavyweight headliner and who he sees coming out on top in one of the most anticipated scraps of 2024.
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"I’m quite sure that Anatoly will win because he is a machine. He’s just on another level. I’m 99 percent sure that Malykhin will win that fight."
Malachiev scored his biggest win yet at ONE Fight Night 25 inside the legendary Lumpinee Stadium, besting Bokang Masunyane—a victory that could very well put him next in line for a shot at the strawweight MMA world title.
Fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE 169 live on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, November 8 in U.S. primetime.
Anatoly Malykhin helped lift Mansur Malachiev to a victory at ONE Fight Night 25
Anatoly Malykhin was in Malachiev's corner at ONE Fight Night 25 earlier this month, a presence that gave the strawweight contender an extra bit of motivation to take it to the 'Little Giant' and come out on top.
"He’s a legend because he has three belts, so for me it was an additional motivation to have him in the corner and have him supporting me."
With the victory, Malachiev moved to 3-1 under the ONE Championship banner and 13-1 overall, his lone loss coming against undisputed strawweight MMA world titleholder Joshua Pacio. Since then, Malachiev has been chomping at the bit to run it back with 'The Passion.'
After defeating Masunyane, he may very well get his chance—once Pacio settles some business with the division's interim champion Jarred Brooks.
