Whereas he believed that the unification bout between heavyweights Anatoly Malykhin and Arjan Bhullar might have given extra, ONE CEO and Chairman Chatri Sityodtong nonetheless praised the 2 fighters for placing up a enjoyable combat.
The 2 prime heavyweights lastly met to unify the division belt on June 23 at ONE Friday Fights 22 on the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.
Former ONE interim heavyweight world champion Anatoly Malykhin despatched erstwhile titleholder Arjan Bhullar to a third-round technical knockout (punches) loss to turn out to be the undisputed king of the division.
Regardless of an injured leg, the Russian fighter was dominant proper from the get-go, steadily tearing down Arjan Bhullar with highly effective strikes. It will definitely got here to an finish on the 2:42 mark of the third spherical with ‘Singh’ Bhullar down on the mat, unable to seek out an escape from the pounding of ‘Sladkiy’ which prompted the referee to wave off the competition.
Talking to the South China Morning Submit following ONE Friday Fights 22, Chatri Sityodtong stated that the heavyweight unification bout didn’t go the thunderous route he was anticipating, nevertheless it was nonetheless and enjoyable combat.
The ONE government stated:
“Hats off to each of them for giving combat, regardless of them not acting at their greatest ranges in my view. I assumed it was nonetheless a enjoyable combat. It simply wasn’t the extent that they usually function at or compete at.”
Watch the interview under:
The victory made Anatoly Malykhin, who can be the sunshine heavyweight king, a bona-fide double ONE world champion. It additionally prolonged his undefeated skilled combined martial arts document to 13-0, with the final 5 coming below ONE Championship.
He’s now concentrating on a 3rd world title, setting his sights on Dutch champion Reinier de Ridder and his ONE middleweight world title.
Replay of ONE Friday Fights 22 is obtainable on ONE Championship’s YouTube web page.