Reigning ONE Interim Heavyweight World Champion Anatoly Malykhin is a knockout artist, through and through. When he challenges Reinier de Ridder for the ONE Light Heavyweight World Title in the main event of ONE on Prime Video 5 this Friday, the Russian juggernaut will do everything in his power to keep the fight standing.

For Malykhin, his ultimate goals are to maintain his undefeated record, extend his knockout streak to six, and pick up a second World Title at the show. While the Russian does his best work with his thunderous punches, his opponent on December 2 is arguably the best grappler and submission artist in all of MMA, making for an intriguing clash of styles.

Anatoly Malykhin won’t lag behind in the ground game

In order to avoid “The Dutch Knight’s” venomous ground game, Malykhin plans to lean on his background in wrestling – a skill set he’s rarely had to use over the course of his 11-fight professional career.

“He has good jiu-jitsu, his transitions are on point. However, I have good wrestling, too,” the 34-year-old said. “My base is freestyle wrestling. It’s going to be hard for him take me down. I will go after a nice knockout because people want entertainment and people like stand-up fights. And as for percentage? I don’t know. We’ll see in the Circle how I am ready, how he is ready.”

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If the Dutch athlete attempts to bring the fight to the canvas, Malykhin’s takedown defense based in freestyle wrestling will contend with De Ridder’s bevy of throws and trips from judo.

Anatoly Malykhin didn’t think either of them would go for wrestling

But according to “Sladkiy,” that clash of grappling styles is largely irrelevant because the ONE on Prime Video 5 main event, he says, will play out entirely on the feet. 

Whether it’s wishful thinking or an attempt to draw De Ridder into a stand-up war, Malykhin believes the two ONE World Champions will duke it out in the Mall of Asia Arena, giving the fans in attendance and North American primetime viewers exactly what they’re craving.

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“Any wrestling is good for MMA, but especially freestyle wrestling. But I’m not going to wrestle, and neither is he, I think,” he said. “Enough wrestling, De Ridder. We have to give an entertaining show, we have got to trade punches – everyone is tired of wrestling already. Let’s show some nice knockouts and have a stand-up fight.”

On Friday night, the world will see if De Ridder obeys Malykhin’s request. And fans in the U.S. and Canada can watch live and for free with an Amazon Prime membership.