‘You Talk Too Much’ – Amir Aliakbari Eager To Silence Anatoly Malykhin In Potential Rematch
Following a shaky start to his ONE Championship career, Amir Aliakbari thinks he’s finally starting to show his true potential in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
The Iranian heavyweight finished Dustin Joynson in the first round at ONE Fight Night 12 on Prime Video to earn his third straight stoppage victory. And with the wind in his sails, he’s looking toward the top.
Originally debuting in ONE during the COVID-19 pandemic, Aliakbari didn’t feel fully prepared due to the inconsistent training opportunities at the time.
That was not the case in his most recent fight camp, and the 35-year-old believes the difference was evident when he dominated Joynson last Friday, July 14.
He told ONEFC.com:
“Fortunately, during the past six months, I had consistent practice – especially in boxing with my coach, Ali – and we did great. The result was what you [saw in the fight].
“During this time, we worked very, very hard. In addition to that, with the help of Ali, we did an analysis of [Joynson’s] performance. I knew about his weak points. I knew how I could knock him out, and this was what I did.
“I’m very happy because we got the result that we were looking for. So it was a great success.”
Aliakbari entered ONE with massive expectations given his status as a former UWW Greco-Roman Wrestling World Champion and the regional success he’d enjoyed in his MMA career to that point.
The AAA Team representative held the same belief in himself, but it was dented by a pair of surprising losses in his first two outings.
However, with a trio of solid victories in a row, he feels ready to challenge for the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title against his heated rival, Anatoly Malykhin.
Aliakbari said:
“I am returning to the level that I expected of myself. So this expectation and all of my training will help me and lead me to the next victory, which I believe will be when I fight for the belt.
“I know that my preparation, my fitness, and all my power will be based on this plan. I hope that I can win and get the belt finally.”
Aliakbari To Malykhin: ‘Next Time, I Will Cut Your Talk’
Amir Aliakbari was stopped by Anatoly Malykhin when they first met in 2021, and he’s desperate to face the Russian again to show that he can deliver a much better performance.
Aliakbari is even more motivated because of the verbal jabs he received from “Sladkiy” leading up to ONE Fight Night 12. While he paid little attention to those words during training, they didn’t go unnoticed – and he wants payback.
The Iranian said:
“I was focusing on this important fight, so [Malykhin] was just playing around and trying to say words that could destroy my spirit and my attitude, but he was not successful.
“I think with the kind of victory I just had, he will be the one who will be defeated next.”
Following his win last Friday, Aliakbari called out Malykhin – resulting in a scuffle inside the ring in Bangkok – and he’s eager to silence the vocal reigning king for good.
With his training, his faith, and his fans behind him, the surging heavyweight contender promises to set things straight and prove Malykhin wrong if they meet again.
Firing a warning to the unbeaten Russian, he added:
“[Malykhin], I will tell you directly that you talk too much about me and you say lots of things about me. Next time, I will cut your talk.
“All my fans and my followers you have to know that, after God, all my trust is in you. So with your help and support, I could win [this fight], and I will win the next match.”
