Two-weight ONE world champion Anatoly Malykhin (13-0) shocked fans last weekend when he declared his intention to add a third belt to his collection – the ONE middleweight world title.

“Sladkiy” made the surprise announcement directly after claiming the undisputed heavyweight crown via a third-round TKO of bitter rival Arjan Bhullar at ONE Friday Fights 22 on June 23.

In his post-fight interview, Malykhin called for a second meeting with Reinier de Ridder – the man he snatched the light heavyweight belt from last December – but this time they’d tussle for the Dutchman’s middleweight strap.

The callout has been met with a degree of skepticism by de Ridder, who has indicated that a showdown with surging Turkish middleweight Shamil Erdogan is on his radar next.

Malykhin, however, believes that his message was loud and clear.

“I think de Ridder has already understood everything about me, and he definitely understands that me calling him out is serious. I think he understood what really is going on,” he said.

If a middleweight showdown with “The Dutch Knight” doesn’t come in 2023, Malykhin is confident he won’t be short of options to expand his already significant legacy.

The hulking Russian powerhouse made the light heavyweight limit with surprising ease when he squared off with de Ridder first time out, and he insists that a campaign across three weight classes – and indeed multiple sports – is well within his reach.

“I think I’ll definitely find somebody to fight with because I can do three weight classes. I can safely fight at 93, 102 and 120 kilograms,” Malykhin said.

“There’s no problem with getting fights in ONE for me. I can also do grappling. I think I am sorted for work for the next two-to-three years. I won’t have any problems with getting fights.”