“That is my dream” - Anatoly Malykhin admits teacher’s harsh words lit up his burning passion for MMA greatness

Anatoly Malykhin may seem the most laid-back fighter outside the cage, but that fun-loving personality hides a sinister alter ego that doesn't let things go.

In an interview with ONE Championship, the three-division MMA world champion revealed that a math teacher from his school days practically laughed at his dream of capturing unprecedented athletic success.

Malykhin also recalled a similar incident when he got into it with Reinier de Ridder during the lead-up to their world title fight at ONE on Prime Video 5.

While most of what Malykhin says can be attributed to hype-building trash talk, the Russian knockout machine gets ticked off whenever his achievements and dreams are taken lightly.

Anatoly Malykhin said:

"My math teacher, Valentina Appolinaryevna, always brought me to the board and asked, ‘What’s going on with you, Tolik?' I said, ‘Valentina Appolinaryevna, I really mean it: I will become the world champion, this is my dream, I can tell you for sure I will.’ And she always laughed, like de Ridder who called me fake, saying, ‘Calm down, what world champions are you talking about?’"

Those stinging words ultimately became Malykhin's fuel to become MMA's first and only three-division world champion.

Malykhin currently holds the ONE middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight MMA world championships. He's also a perfect 14-0 in his career and 6-0 in ONE Championship.

'Sladkiy' is now set to defend the ONE heavyweight MMA title against Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane in the main event of ONE 169 this Friday in US primetime at the historic Lumpinee Stadium.

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

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Anatoly Malykhin vows to end 'Reug Reug' at ONE 169 headliner

Anatoly Malykhin always promised a knockout win every time he stepped inside the ring or the circle, and this time it was no different.

In the same interview with ONE Championship, Malykhin promised to knock 'Reug Reug' out in the headlining match of ONE 169:

"I'm going to knock him out. I don’t have a strategy — I just move forward, give people a show. I move forward, box, wrestle, and never back down. Watch all my fights — I take risks, and I’ll give the fans everything they want that night."