Full Breakdown
Anatoly Malykhin Reclaims ONE Heavyweight Title, Announces Retirement
5/16/2026, 3:52:49 AM
Rematch Outcome
On May 15 2026, ONE Championship’s The Inner Circle at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok featured a heavyweight title bout between defending champion Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane and two-division champion Anatoly Malykhin. Malykhin stopped Kane by knockout at 1:54 of round four, reclaimed the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Championship, earned a US$100,000 performance bonus, and removed his gloves in the ring to signal retirement.
Background & Context
The first Malykhin-Kane meeting at ONE 169 in November 2024 ended in a split-decision win for Kane, giving him the heavyweight crown. The rematch offered Malykhin a chance to avenge that loss and to solidify his status as ONE’s first three-division champion, having previously held the middleweight and light-heavyweight belts. Key figures include Malykhin, Kane, ONE Championship and its CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Data & Statistics
Record after the fight: 15-1 with a 100 % finish rate (11 KOs, 4 subs). Knockout occurred at 1:54 of round 4 (?13 min 54 sec total). Performance bonus: US$100,000. Vacated titles: heavyweight, light-heavyweight, middleweight. Age: 38.
Why It Matters
The victory makes Malykhin the first athlete to hold three ONE titles simultaneously, a historic milestone. His retirement instantly leaves three belts vacant, forcing ONE Championship to reorganize title contention across three weight classes and reshaping the heavyweight division’s future.
Official Statements & Responses
Malykhin thanked CEO Chatri Sityodtong for six years, said he was losing love for the sport, and announced he would return to Altai to tend his cows and dogs. ONE Championship confirmed the title change, the bonus and the retirement.
Criticism & Opposition
Social-media users expressed concern that vacating three belts could weaken ONE’s MMA focus. @ChaelPSonnen18 praised the timing of Malykhin’s retirement, while @MoloneyBilly and @JNEW105 warned the loss of star power may hurt the promotion.
On-the-Ground Reports
After the knockout, Malykhin delivered several kicks to the downed Kane, prompting an angry reaction from Kane’s corner and a brief scuffle that Malykhin tried to calm before removing his gloves.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree on the KO, the retirement announcement and glove removal. Some reports noted early ambiguity in Malykhin’s retirement comments, requiring repeated confirmation before the decision was deemed final.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I want to say a big thank you to Mr. Chatri (Sityodtong) for giving me an amazing six years,” — Anatoly Malykhin
- “I'm done.” — Anatoly Malykhin
- “That's it. I'm going back to Altai and taking care of my cows and my dogs,” — Anatoly Malykhin
- “Well he is 38 yo and just avenged his only loss,correct thing to do” — Chael Sonnen (Twitter)
What’s Next
ONE Championship must schedule title bouts to fill the vacant heavyweight, light-heavyweight and middleweight championships. Malykhin indicated he will focus on life in Altai after retiring from competition.
