‘100 Percent Expecting Knockouts’ – Anatoly Malykhin Excited To Watch Rodtang And Liam Harrison At ONE 167
As well as being a historic three-division ONE MMA World Champion, Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin is a fight fan who knows what gets the crowd going.
That’s why he can’t wait to witness ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II on Prime Video in U.S. primetime this Friday, June 7, as some of the world’s most exciting strikers will be in action.
Among them are aggressive sluggers Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon and Liam “Hitman” Harrison, who will face off against Denis “The Bosnian Menace” Puric and Katsuki Kitano, respectively, at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
Malykhin knows that Rodtang and Harrison never hold anything back, and he thinks both of their battles have a high chance of ending in dramatic fashion.
“Sladkiy” told onefc.com:
“Yes, I am 100 percent expecting knockouts [from these fights]. Rodtang and Harrison always go for the knockout, attracting millions of viewers. They aim for blood and knockouts, not sparing themselves or their opponents.”
Due to his high-octane and aggressive style of combat, Rodtang is a man who “Sladkiy” will always make sure to watch.
In fact, Malykhin says the rest of his household feels the same way about the Thai megastar:
“Rodtang is definitely one of our family’s favorites. We don’t miss any of his fights. He’s a very positive, charismatic fighter, and he always puts on a show. That’s why he has millions of fans worldwide. It’s his uncompromising fighting style.”
Malkyhin Previews Rodtang Vs. Puric, Harrison Vs. Kitano
Rodtang Jitmuangnon’s three-round flyweight kickboxing clash against Denis Puric pits two fearless strikers against one another in a matchup that is unlikely to offer either man any respite.
Although he doesn’t want to write off “The Bosnian Menace” completely, Anatoly Malykhin thinks it will be hard for the 39-year-old to keep up with Rodtang’s pace and score the upset.
He explained:
“I think Rodtang is more motivated, younger, and physically stronger. It will be very difficult for Denis, even though he’s experienced and has a lot of heart. It will be hard for him to cope with the pressure Rodtang puts on.”
Liam Harrison has a different hurdle to overcome, returning after two years out of action due to a serious knee injury that saw him on the cusp of retirement. However, the British legend says he’s fully recovered and hitting heavier than ever.
For his part, Malykhin understands that every competitor comes back differently from a long layoff, and he’s interested to see how the 38-year-old “Hitman” looks when he steps back into the Circle:
“For some, rest has a positive effect. For others, it has a negative effect. Let’s see how it affected him. I’m not going to predict anything. I’ll just watch the fight.”
Malykhin Expects ‘Beauty Of Striking’ In Tawanchai Vs. Nattawut II
While Tawanchai PK Saenchai has a completely different style from Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Liam Harrison, the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion is no less entertaining.
Just as powerful but substituting his technical wizardry for all-out aggression, the Pattaya native is looking to deliver a more emphatic victory when he defends his gold in a rematch with “Smokin” Jo Nattawut.
Nattawut’s power punching and low kicks caused some problems for Tawanchai in their three-round kickboxing clash last October, but with more time, more tools, and more at stake, it could look different when they run it back.
Anatoly Malykhin can’t pick a winner, but he knows it will be a striking masterclass for the fans who tune in:
“I expect a good stand-up fight, showcasing the beauty of striking technique, which is what everyone loves. Nowadays, people prefer watching stand-up fights over grappling or wrestling. We’ll be happy to watch a beautiful shootout.
“The first fight was very close. I couldn’t tell who won. I was in the locker room, and opinions were split 50-50. I think it will be another tough fight this time with someone winning by a slight advantage. I think the fight will go the distance.”
