‘Nothing Is Holding Me Back Now’ – Anatoly Malykhin Says Defeat To “Reug Reug” Made Him A Better Fighter

The path to greatness is rarely a straight line, and two-division MMA World Champion Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin has discovered that sometimes suffering defeat can serve as a victory in its own way.

The Russian behemoth heads into his ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title rematch against “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri inside Tokyo’s iconic Ariake Arena on Sunday, November 16, promising to bring a new version of himself into the Circle.

When “Sladkiy” suffered his first career defeat to the Senegalese wrestling sensation at ONE 169 last November, the Russian powerhouse could have wallowed in despair and made excuses.

Instead, the reigning ONE Light Heavyweight and Middleweight MMA World Champion chose evolution. Malykhin identified exactly where things went wrong to ensure he won’t make the same mistake twice.

The 37-year-old told onefc.com:

“These are the two mistakes. The first mistake I made was that I was overthinking. I thought that ‘Reug Reug’ could do something supernatural. Everyone around me was telling me this. I didn’t need to listen to anyone. I should have just done my job.

“Second, I simply overloaded myself with too much. And with me thinking too much, I had too much volume of training that my body couldn’t handle. I was thinking too much about everything.”

Malykhin’s transformation over the past months goes far beyond just minor adjustments. The Russian juggernaut went the extra mile, digging deep to bring himself back to the peak of his powers.

Needless to say, “Sladkiy” has emerged from his darkest moment with clarity, one that he feels eluded him after he became ONE’s first-ever three-division MMA World Champion.

Winning was a lot of fun. But, in hindsight, Malykhin did lose some of his hunger, which was the unique characteristic that made him the most feared heavyweight force in MMA:

“Nothing is holding me back now. I’ve got the most important thing with me right now – the thirst and pleasure in enjoying what I do. Because in my recent fights, I was going into fights [in a rush], and that was my biggest mistake.

“What I needed was exactly this: to gain mental strength, so my body would feel new. This defeat made me better. Now I am at my peak, both physically and mentally. I became sharper, I became smarter. So, this is a big plus point for me.”

Malykhin Coming Into ‘Reug Reug’ Rematch With Mental Clarity

On top of reinstated hunger, Anatoly Malykhin revealed his first-ever loss forced him to confront the mental aspects of fighting that he had perhaps taken for granted.

The champ-champ discovered that his greatest obstacle was his own overthinking mind, and being able to conquer that internal enemy has left him feeling more dangerous than ever in time for ONE’s star-studded return to Tokyo.

“Sladkiy” shared:

“With a better mind, now I have motivation. I have also become more disciplined, so I have no negatives. I removed all the negatives from myself that led to the loss. Now, I have one hundred percent focus.”

When the Golden Team megastar returns to the global stage for his rematch against “Reug Reug,” one thing is for sure. He will be a fighter reborn through adversity — sharper in mind and hungrier in spirit.

Losing his heavyweight crown may have stung, but it has only created a more dangerous version of an already dominant World Champion.

Moreover, with redemption on his mind and a chance to once again reign as a three-division king, “Sladkiy” is ready to prove that true champions can also be forged in the fires of defeat, and not just the glow of victory.

Malykhin added:

“Now, I’m a beast. I’m a beast on the hunt. I removed all this [negativity] from my head, and I’m simply enjoying every moment again. I enjoy training again, waking up early, training, and improving my techniques. I’m constantly looking to improve my technique and looking for something new.

“I’ve been through many trials, and always, always found a way out. Whatever life threw at me, I always found a way out. And, once again, all these will lead me to my belt, which I will get back on November 16.”