ONE Championship: 3 Potential Opponents For Undisputed ONE Heavyweight World Champ Anatoly Malykhin

ONE Heavyweight World Champion Anatoly Malykhin finally reached the pinnacle of his weight bracket when he defeated Arjan Bhullar in a unification bout this past Friday, 23 June, at ONE Friday Fights 22, and he now has a multitude of new challengers awaiting.

Malykhin patiently waited for his moment to become king ever since capturing the interim strap at ONE: BAD BLOOD in February 2022. Against Bhullar in Bangkok, Thailand's Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, "Sladkiy" dominated the contest in a one-sided affair en route to a third-round knockout.

The Russian powerhouse has become a fan favorite due to his sheer power and striking pedigree. With that, let's look at three potential opponents for Malykhin as his official reign as heavyweight king begins.

1. Marcus Almeida: Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida has seen a similar trajectory in the heavyweight division to that of Malykhin. And if he can continue his fine form in his return to action this August at ONE Fight Night 13, he may well be the Russian's first championship defense.

The 13-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion has been one of the more dominant heavyweight athletes in the division since arriving in 2021. Showcasing his elite grappling prowess with his newfound striking has made him one of the top contenders.

But to stamp his mark he'll have to overcome fellow gargantuan Oumar Kane first. The pair will meet on Saturday, 5 August, in a blockbuster bout, and the Brazilian could certainly place himself in Malykhin's scope with another dominant win.

2. Oumar Kane: Much like "Buchecha," the one they call "Reug Reug" also has just as much of an opportunity to make a name for himself later this summer, as a win over "Buchecha" would undoubtedly mark the Senegalese's most notable victory to date.

Kane is riding a two-fight winning streak into August's clash with Almeida, and his explosive and decorated wrestling prowess will offer the Brazilian the sternest test of his ONE tenure so far.

Should he topple the dominant "Buchecha," Kane would be an intriguing test for Malykhin, and all eyes would be locked on a contest between two unruly behemoths later this year.

3. Reinier de Ridder: With two contenders ready to jump at the chance to face Malykhin for his heavyweight gold, "Sladkiy" seems to have an eye on a former foe. After dispatching Bhullar, Malykhin took to the microphone to call out ONE Middleweight World Champion Reinier de Ridder.

Malykhin snatched the ONE Light Heavyweight World Title from "The Dutch Knight" last December at ONE on Prime Video 5, and it's clear that the Russian has eyes on a third consecutive strap.

Should the man feared by many get his wish in the middleweight division, an enthralling bout would take place as Malykhin finds himself on the brink of becoming ONE Championship's first-ever three-weight king.