Reinier de Ridder’s spectacular win over UFC golden baby Bo Nickal lit up the fight sports activities world over the previous weekend. It additionally caught the eye of 1 man specifically, Anatoly Malykhin. The ONE Championship two-division king congratulated his former rival whereas nonetheless ensuring to say his dominance.
Anatoly Malykhin Applauds Reinier de Ridder After UFC Des Moines Win
de Ridder outgunned Nickal in Iowa, and it was no shock to the ONE Gentle Heavyweight and Middleweight MMA World Champion. Anatoly Malykhin, the one who dethroned the Dutch athlete in each divisions, credited de Ridder’s completed background for the win, and he’s sure that the usual of excellence will solely proceed.
“He’s a very robust fighter, a former double champion of what I think about the most effective league on the earth — ONE Championship. He had 16 finishes. I simply needed to offer credit score the place it’s due — to his abilities and his profession. I’m certain he’ll proceed acting at a excessive stage for a few years,” Anatoly Malykhin mentioned (h/t RDX Sports activities).
Anatoly Malykhin Anticipated One-Means Site visitors in de Ridder vs. Nickal Struggle
Nickal arrived on the scene with an unbelievable quantity of hype. That hype solely grew with every win. Nevertheless, the Russian didn’t share the identical glowing evaluation and acknowledged why he had full confidence in “The Dutch Knight.”
“Bo is only a hyped-up fighter. Reinier de Ridder is an actual champion. I gave Bo zero probability and was certain de Ridder would deal with him simply. De Ridder all the time comes ahead and fights with coronary heart. He’s bought harmful knees, robust takedown protection, and a protracted, awkward body that poses an actual problem. So, yeah — all gasoline, no brakes, Reinier,” Anatoly Malykhin commented.
UPSET DELIVERED IN IOWA 💥
Reinier de Ridder with a HUGE knockout in spherical 2! 👊
[ #UFCDesMoines LIVE NOW on ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/aTh9lulep2
— UFC (@ufc) Could 4, 2025
A Historical past Lesson from Anatoly Malykhin
Though he spoke kindly of de Riddler, Malykhin additionally needed everybody to recollect how their two conferences completed. Of their first assembly at ONE on Prime Video 5, Anatoly Malykhin crushed De Ridder to take the ONE Gentle Heavyweight MMA World Title within a spherical. Over a 12 months later at ONE 166, not a lot modified as “Sladkiy” dominated an overmatched de Ridder to take the ONE Middleweight MMA World Championship.
“I’d say this: Reinier de Ridder is a fighter who can change into champion in any league. He’s a critical risk in any division. However once you see De Ridder successful belts — simply do not forget that Anatoly Malykhin already handled him and dominated him,” Anatoly Malykhin supplied.
Malykhin Encourages Folks to Open Eyes to Prime-Stage Rivals in Different Promotions
Bolstered by his personal expertise within the health club and in competitors, Anatoly Malykhin is hopeful this modifications some perceptions about expertise outdoors of the UFC. Though it has been confirmed again and again over time, world-class athletes are competing all around the world. Malykhin is considered one of many and needs the world to catch as much as seeing all the world’s most distinctive martial artists.
“I’ve been saying this for a very long time – the most effective fighters aren’t solely within the UFC. Positive, they’ve nice expertise, however so do different promotions. The UFC was simply the primary main promotion to hit the market, and it bought probably the most hype — that’s why folks assume it has all the most effective guys. However I’ve skilled with many UFC fighters and truthfully, they’re simply common fighters, common folks. You may beat them, they usually can beat you. Each league has distinctive athletes. The elite is all over the place,” Anatoly Malykhin mentioned.
