Two-division ONE World Champion Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin will be keeping close tabs on the entire ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III card this Friday, May 5 – but one fight, in particular, will hold special significance for him.

The historic event will mark ONE’s debut on U.S. soil, and the Singapore-based promotion has stacked the lineup with wall-to-wall wars, including a flyweight mixed martial arts contender showdown between Malykhin’s friend and training partner Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov and Aussie powerhouse Reece “Lightning” McLaren.

Anatoly Malykhin opines Kairat Akhmetov deserves another title shot

The pair first met in March 2019, with #2-ranked Akhmetov taking the win over his #4-ranked foe on that occasion, and “Sladkiy” believes this rematch will be a perfect chance for the former divisional king to pull clear of the pack in his bid for another shot at the title.

Speaking to ONE, he said, “Kairat is a former ONE World Champion, and I think he should have another chance to fight for the belt. He’s doing everything for it. Kairat has been preparing for the fight here in Thailand. He has strength and endurance, he punches hard, and he has good wrestling. He is very motivated for this fight. I think Kairat wins this one, for sure, and he’s a contender for the belt after the win.”

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Victory in Colorado would make it six in a row for “The Kazakh,” so there’s every reason to think he’ll be the clear favorite to challenge the winner of Friday’s main event ONE Flyweight World Title trilogy match between Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes if he overcomes McLaren.

Kairat Akhmetov was excited to just compete at ONE Fight Night 10

Akhmetov himself has made it clear that win or lose, he’s just excited to be part of such a massive event. But he also promises he’ll be out for the win on the night.

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He told ONE, “I’m proud to have the chance to fight in America now. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid. Soon my dream will come true. I’m proud to be on the card with Demetrious Johnson and other great fighters. I will do everything possible to get my hand raised.”