(James Goyder is the owner/editor of AsianMMA.com)
Anatoly Malykhin ended the unbeaten run of Reinier de Ridder in destructive fashion at ONE on Prime Video 5 on Friday night. He finished the previously undefeated Dutchman in under a round to capture the light heavyweight title at the MOA Arena in Manila.
It was the promotion’s first event in the Philippines since 2019 and the main event pitted two undefeated champions together. Malykhin was looking to add the light heavyweight strap to his interim heavyweight title.
Meanwhile de Ridder holds the middleweight strap and might think twice about competing at light heavyweight again after this bruising defeat. The Dutchman is a BJJ black belt and immediately looked for a takedown.
But Malykhin is a seasoned wrestler and was able to keep the contest standing. This proved to be a problem for de Ridder who immediately found himself on the receiving end of solid right hands.
De Ridder showed he could take a punch but he was taking far too many. Malykhin shares a boxing coach, John Hutchinson, with Petr Yan and the two men brought him a brand new car earlier this year to thank him for his efforts.
Malykhin’s boxing was certainly on point here, as it has been throughout his ONE Championship career. A stiff jab snapped de Ridder’s head back and with the Dutchman in defensive mode he started to target the midsection.
The end was in sight and a right hand dropped de Ridder. He was given every chance to continue but this just gave de Ridder the opportunity to land more punches to the face of his prone opponent with the referee stepping in at the 4:37 mark.
With the win Malykhin improves to 12-0 while his opponent drops to 16-1. Afterwards the Russian was awarded $100,000 USD in bonuses by Chatri Sityodtong.
The eagerly anticipated welterweight bout between Roberto Soldić and Murad Ramazanov ended in a no contest. The Russian landed an accidental knee to the groin of the promotional newcomer midway through the opening round.
Soldic was unable to continue which made for an anticlimactic debut for the former KSW star. The winner had been expected to challenge for the welterweight title and an immediate rematch must be in the works.
Earlier in the evening Edson Marquez (11-2) potentially ended the career of Eduard Folayang (22-13). The former lightweight champion is on a five fight losing streak dating all the way back to 2019 after being knocked out in the second round.
ONE on Prime Video 5 Results, Manila, December 3rd
- Anatoly Malykhin def. Reinier de Ridder via KO (Punches) at 4:37 of R1
- Submission Grappling Kade Ruotolo def. Matheus Gabriel via Decision (Unanimous)
- Roberto Soldić vs. Murad Ramazanov ends in No Contest (Low blow) at 3:01 of R1
- Muay Thai: Jackie Buntan def. Amber Kitchen via Decision (Unanimous)
- Lowen Tynanes def. Dae Sung Park via Decision (Split)
- Edson Marques def. Eduard Folayang via TKO (Punch) at 2:53 of R2
- Submission Grappling: Tye Ruotolo def. Marat Gafurov via Submission (Triangle armbar) at 5:09 of R1
- Oumar Kane def. Jasur Mirzamukhamedov via Decision (Unanimous)
- Denice Zamboanga def. Lin Heqin via Decision (Split)
Anatoly Malykhin stops Reinier de Ridder at ONE on Prime Video 5
