Anatoly Malykhin knocked out Reug Reug in the fourth round to regain the ONE heavyweight title at Lumpinee Stadium, Bangkok. The fight ended in chaos as a post-fight brawl erupted between the two corners.
Key points
Anatoly Malykhin regained the ONE heavyweight title
Malykhin won by fourth-round knockout
Post-fight brawl occurred between the two corners
Malykhin may be signaling retirement
Fight took place at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok
Mentioned in this story
Lumpinee Stadium
Anatoly MalykhinReug ReugONE Championship
Anatoly Malykhinâs second fight with Reug Reug was an absolute rollercoaster.
Eighteen months after their first encounter, which ended in a controversial split decision win for Reug Reug (a.k.a. Oumar Kane), Malykhin gained a measure of revenge and regained the ONE heavyweight championship with a fourth-round knockout of his rival at ONE Friday Fights 154 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Watch the finish below.
â Neo Vale Tudo (@NeoValeTudo) May 15, 2026
The ending of the fight was just the beginning of the drama, as Malykhin landed a few post-KO kicks to the fallen Reug Reug, drawing the ire of the Senegaleseâs corner. Malykhinâs corner rushed in for a brief brawl, which Malykhin attempted to defuse, to his credit.
đ·đș Anatoly Malykhin knocks out Reug Reug â and then chaos erupts as their two teams break out into BRAWL in the ring at Lumpinee Stadium đź #ONEChampionship#TheInnerCirclepic.twitter.com/jtUnmpYLFi
â Nick Atkin (@nickatkinone) May 15, 2026
Making the moment even more memorable, Malykhin removed his gloves afterwards, apparently signaling his retirement from competition.
Thank you, "Sladkiy" đ Congrats to three-division king Anatoly Malykhin on a historic MMA career! @AnatolyMalykhin
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Q&A
What happened in the fight between Anatoly Malykhin and Reug Reug?
Anatoly Malykhin knocked out Reug Reug in the fourth round, regaining the ONE heavyweight championship.
Why did a brawl break out after the Malykhin vs. Reug Reug fight?
A brawl erupted after Malykhin landed post-fight kicks on Reug Reug, angering his corner and leading to a confrontation between the teams.
Is Anatoly Malykhin retiring after his victory over Reug Reug?
Yes, Malykhin removed his gloves after the fight, signaling his potential retirement from competition.
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â ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) May 15, 2026
The bout itself looked like it would be forgettable at first, with Reug Reug employing a bizarre strategy of backing his way into the corner and waiting for Malykhin to come to him. This resulted in plenty of hand fighting, but little substantial offense from either fighter. Malykhin and Reug Reugâs first fight in November 2024 was also notable for its lack of action and fans appeared to be facing another dreadful outing between the ONE stars.
However, Malykhin began to find his range in Round 3, then in Round 4 he turned Reug Reugâs lights off with a huge right hand that crumpled the champion. Several heavy punches followed to seal the deal, and then Malykhin added in the kicks that left Reug Reugâs corner fuming.
Should this be the end for the 38-year-old Malykhin, he retires with a 15-1 pro record and ONE Championship title wins at both heavyweight (twice) and light heavyweight. He rose to stardom with a pair of title fight wins over fellow dual-division ONE champion Reinier de Ridder prior to âRDRâ making his way to the UFC.
