Anatoly Malykhin and Reug Reug will get the chance to fight each other on Friday, but they nearly had their heavyweight championship fight two days early.
Malykhin and Reug Reug headline Friday’s ONE 169 event at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
On Wednesday, the three-division ONE champion and the challenger got physical, and as things seemed to calm down, they engaged in a standing clinch and needed to be separated by a slew of security on stage. Check out the video below, courtesy of Nicolas Atkin.
Anatoly Malykhin and Reug Reug got physical again at the ONE 169 press conference.
— Nicolas Atkin (@nicatkinONE) November 6, 2024
Main event duo had to be separated.#ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/EwIXMcue7t
Malykhin also is the promotion’s light heavyweight and middleweight champion, compiling a 14-0 overall record with a perfect 6-0 run in ONE. “Spartak” puts the heavyweight title on the line for the first time since stopping ex-UFC fighter Arjan Bhullar at ONE Friday Nights 22 in June 2023.
Reug Reug is 6-1 in the sport, and is set to compete in his first MMA bout since defeating Marcus Buchecha at ONE Fight Night 13 in August 2023.
