Anatoly Malykhin has not ruled out returning to MMA competition to pursue a fourth ONE Championship belt in the 84kg division. In an interview, Malykhin indicated he recently announced retirement but is now considering a comeback. He mentioned wanting to cut weight to 100kg first, then potentially challenge Christian Lee at 84kg. Malykhin stated he competed at 84kg earlier in his career and believes he can make that weight again. He described such a challenge as the type of fight that motivates him, though he emphasized this was his last fight for now.
Anatoly Malykhin, who recently announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, is now publicly entertaining a comeback — and not just any comeback. The undisputed ONE Championship heavyweight and light heavyweight king has said he is considering a return to competition that would see him chase a fourth world title, this time in the 84-kilogram division.
In a recent interview, Malykhin revealed he has not closed the door on fighting again despite his retirement announcement. He outlined a specific path forward: first cutting his weight down to 100 kilograms, and then targeting a challenge at 84kg, where Christian Lee holds gold. Malykhin noted that he competed at that weight class earlier in his career and believes he retains the ability to get back down to it.
The Russian powerhouse currently holds titles at two weight classes under the ONE Championship banner, making him one of the most dominant multi-division champions in the organization's history. Adding a third belt — in a division significantly lighter than where he has most recently competed — would be an extraordinary physical and competitive undertaking.
Why it matters
- A fourth ONE title would be an unprecedented achievement and cement Malykhin's legacy as the promotion's greatest multi-division champion.
- Christian Lee, the 84kg titleholder, would represent a significant stylistic and physical challenge as one of ONE's most celebrated homegrown stars.
- The weight cut from his current frame to 84kg raises legitimate questions about timeline and feasibility, which Malykhin himself acknowledged by flagging a staged reduction through 100kg first.
Malykhin framed the potential Lee fight as exactly the kind of challenge that reignites his motivation, though he was careful to describe it as his last fight for now rather than the start of a prolonged return. Whether that ambition translates into a formal comeback remains to be seen, but his comments make clear retirement may not be as final as it first appeared.
