In a rematch of their initial 2022 encounter, Anatoly Malykhin looks to take Reinier de Ridder other belt: the ONE Middleweight MMA World Championship.
The men of Lions Nation MMA are excited for ONE 166: Qatar, especially as one of their own –
Joshua “The Passion” Pacio – challenges ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion
Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks.
But the strawweight showdown isn’t the only world title affair to watch out for at Lusail Sports Arena this Friday, March 1. In the main event, ONE Middleweight MMA World Champion
Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder takes on old-tormentor in two-division ONE MMA World Champion
Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin.
It’s going to be an exciting showdown for sure, but for the men of Lions Nation MMA, Malykhin’s dominance is just simply too tough to overlook.
“My prediction for this fight is Anatoly Malykhin winning by TKO in the second or third round. De Ridder has not been the same since the first fight. Mentally, it may have affected him. This is a challenge that De Ridder has to overcome in order for him to get his redemption,” former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion
Eduard “Landslide” Folayang said.
“I expect De Ridder to make certain adjustments in the rematch, but his biggest problem is Malykhin’s power punches. Negating it is his first order of business.”
Former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion
Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon believes De Ridder has a chance, but he has to make major changes with his approach in this match.
In the first bout, the Dutch submission wizard got absolutely destroyed when he tried to take the Russian down, and his throws and trips weren’t enough to shake “Sladkiy.”
“If De Ridder modifies how he executes his takedowns, unlike in their previous fight, I believe he will win via submission,” he said.
“Malykhin comfortably defended those shots coming from him in their first bout because the takedown was executed in a judo-style manner. In my opinion, it would be more effective if he applied a single or double-leg takedown.
“If his approach remains the same, Malykhin will undoubtedly win again by knockout in the second or third round.”
Bantamweight rising star Jeremy Pacatiw agreed with Belingon’s assessment, though he feels that if Malykhin retains his power amid the weight cut, it’s going to be the Russian’s night for sure.
"If Malykhin can maintain his power despite dropping down to middleweight, that's a big factor in the fight,” he said.
“With his knockout power and cardio intact, I believe he will win by knockout again."