ONE Championship has added a new heavyweight star. Ben Tynan has the skill and personality to become a big star in MMA. After ONE Fight Night 21, he has moved on to become the commander of the Russian powerhouse at the top of the division. Tynan scored his second ONE win with a TKO victory over Duke Didier. In the post-match interview, he showed even more of his charisma. The pants-wearing heavyweight appears to be well on his way to title contention.
ONE Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight and Middleweight MMA World Champion Anatoly Malihin is very happy with this prospect. 'Sladky', like any true champion, wants more competition. But what really gets him excited about Tynan's rise within the division is the bombastic interview.
Eyes of Anatoly Malihin Charismatic newcomer Ben Tynan
“I’m happy to see new faces in ONE. Strong opposition is what I need. It’s nice to have fighters who are not only good in the ring, but also have their own style outside the ring. I'm happy for them. They definitely bring something unique,” Malihin told ONE.
Unlike jealous athletes who want everything for themselves, Malihin is happy to see Tynan making headlines. He even wants his performance bonus added to his bank account. The Russian is a benevolent champion and seems to be pushing all his rivals to fight him at the top.
“Everyone knows that Mr. Chatri always puts on a beautiful fight and rewards fighters who finish a beautiful fight. If he decides to give a bonus, it makes sense. After all. But he finishes the fight 100 percent fast – and he's a heavyweight,'' the Russian said.
Tynan likely still has some work to do before he can challenge for gold, but he is definitely on his way to gold quickly. ONE's return to U.S. soil is scheduled for this fall, and Malihin believes it's the ideal place for him to continue his rise. Considering Tynan is training with the Elevation Fight Team, a fight in Denver looks like a win-win scenario for everyone involved.
“I'm looking forward to sharing the ring with him. I think America is the perfect place to really test him,” Malihin said.
