Anatoly Malykhin Adamant Amir Aliakbari Has No Chance In Winning ONE Heavyweight World Title

The glory days are coming back for ONE Championship’s heavyweight division.

As the weight class finally returns to the level of competition it enjoyed in past years, divisional king Anatoly Malykhin is keeping a close eye on any and all comers, which was no more apparent than at ONE Fight Night 12: Superlek vs. Khalilov last weekend. 

“Sladkiy” was onhand to witness Amir Aliakbari dominate Dustin Joynson in their heavyweight mixed martial arts battle at the intriguing spectacle, and he even got involved in some drama after the action concluded.

Aliakbari finished his Canadian foe in the opening frame and took aim at the newly crowned undisputed ONE Heavyweight World Champion in his post-fight interview. 

The Iranian star called for him to join him in the ring, which the Russian star did, resulting in a tense standoff.

Ultimately, it came to little more than verbal jabs, but Malykhin offered a breakdown of Aliakbari in an interview this week, and he didn’t hold back about the stars three-fight winning streak and his chances at getting to the top of the division.

“He has started believing his own hype. Who has he beaten in his last three fights since we met? He beat Brandon Vera, a man who was already on the decline. Then, he beat Mauro Cerilli, who had a loss before Aliakbari and who is 40 years old,” Malykhin said.

“Then, he beat Dustin, who hasn’t even read a book about wrestling. These are all convenient opponents. All three opponents after losses. It gave him enough faith in himself to challenge the champion to a fight. It’s easy money for me, and I’ll be ready.”

Dating back almost two years, a potential rematch with “Sladkiy” carries with it personal redemption for Aliakbari, given that he fell to a devastating first-round finish to him when they met in September 2021. 

The recent form of the Iranian powerhouse may earn him a second meeting with the divisional king, but Malykhin believes that, even if it does happen, Aliakbari won’t stand much of a chance.

“For me, he is easy money. I saw it in his eyes – that Aliakbari doesn’t understand what he is doing. He doesn’t understand what is waiting for him,” he said.

“If this guy thinks that he will be able to take me down and finish me from the crucifix like he did with others, then he is very delusional. After two or three of my punches, he’ll just go to sleep.”