Three-weight ONE MMA world champion Anatoly Malykhin keeps his ear to the ground in ONE Championship, as he likes to keep up to date with everything going on – even when it’s outside his sport.
The mouthy Russian is never shy when discussing how he thinks a bout will go. So when he was asked for his view on the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title showdown between reigning king Jonathan Haggerty and flyweight kickboxing titleholder Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE 168: Denver inside Denver, Colorado’s Ball Arena on Saturday, 7th September, he was happy to oblige.
“Haggerty is on a roll right now. But Superlek has also been performing beautifully. I think the winner will be the one who is mentally better prepared because both of them have proven their skills in the ring,” Malykhin said.
“They are unyielding, have strong characters, and can turn a fight around. It’s going to be a good fight.”
Clashes of this magnitude come down to the finer details. They separate the good from the great, and the great from the legends.
Haggerty has made a career out of delivering show-stopping knockouts, which he’s graced the ONE stage with on numerous occasions, including his world title-winning performance against Nong-O Hama at ONE Fight Night 9 in April 2023.
But Superlek is on an 11-fight winning streak, and he has dispatched stars like Nabil Anane, Takeru Segawa, and ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon utilising his venomous kicks and ruthless pressure.
Malykhin is in a strong position to comment on both strikers’s skills. After all, he has amassed 10 knockouts in his perfect 14-0 professional slate thanks to his devastating firepower on the feet.
As such, he broke down what he thinks they will each try to implement to score the win at ONE 168.
“Superlek is big for this weight class and works very well with his elbows, often cutting his opponents. His advantage will be elbow strikes and size. Haggerty’s advantage is his speed and technique,” Malykhin said.
“Sladkiy,” who will next be in action when he defends his heavyweight MMA crown against “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane at ONE 169: Atlanta in November, is confident about how the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title fight will go in Denver.
But when it comes to who will leave the Ball Arena with the belt, he is at a loss.
“Who will win? Only the gods will decide that day. Is a knockout guaranteed? I think this fight will go the distance,” Malykhin said.
