Mikhail Chalykh

Chalykh started his professional career in 2004 and up until his first retirement in late 2007, he had only lost once in a close decision against Kickboxing legend, Dmitry Shakuta. Over his short professional career, he won the National WBKF (World BARS Kickboxing Federation) title three times. Additionally, in December, 2004, Chalykh knocked out two-time French National Champion in Kickboxing and Savate, Sylvio Danois for the WBKF European title. His most notable career wins came against WAKO World Full-Contact Champion Denis Grachev, Kickboxing and Muay Thai legend, Artem Levin, and Kickboxing legend, Artur Kyshenko.

In 2006, the WBKF organized a one-night 4-man tournament consisting of the best -76 kg fighters under their banner to fight for the WBKF World Championship. In the first round, Russian kickboxing great, WBKF Eurasian Champion, Vladimir Tyuin beat WAKO World Champion and WBKF Eurasian Champion, Kyrgyz, Katanbek Sydygaliev by unanimous decision. On the other side of the bracket, Chalykh beat two-time Ukrainian National Muay Thai Champion and 2006 I.F.M.A. World Championship gold medalist, Artur Kyshenko by split decision.

In the Final of the tournament, despite losing the first round, Chalykh came back from behind in the last round to win, again, by split decision. He had won his first, and only professional World title of his career.

As an amateur, Chalykh was a two-time World Champion (2002, 2005), a European Champion (2004) and four-time Russian National Champion (2002, 2006, 2007, 2011). His most notable tournament was in the 2005 World Championships where he beat L'houcine Ouzgni and Yuri Karbechou, whom he would lose to in the Final of the next European Tournament (2006), for the Gold medal.[3]

At the end of the year of 2007, after beating Draženko Ninić, Chalykh retired at 24 years old, with a record of 18-1, reportedly due to knee injuries.[4]

After four years away from the ring, Chalykh came back to compete in the WAKO Russian National Tournament heavier than he had ever been, at 81 kg. He stated that during his time off, he had healed his knees and fixed a tooth. According to himself, Chalykh started training for the tournament just three months before. He ran through his competition with relative ease and beat Murat Talipov in the Final to win his fourth amateur National title and last title amateur or professional.

In 2014, Chalykh participated in the Amateur Volgograd Kickboxing Open, it was his first fight after over two years away from the sport.[5]

In 2015, eight years after his last professional fight, at 31 years old, Chalykh decided to make his comeback heavier than he'd ever been at 85 kg against Moroccan, Samir Boukhidous on the undercard of Glory 20: Dubai. He lost by TKO in round 1 after getting knocked down twice.[6]

After this, he returned to the Amateur ranks where he participated in the National Tournament. He went 2-1 in the tournament, losing his third fight by, reportedly, controversial decision. Chalykh decided to sit out 2016 and not go to the World Championships.[7]

Two years after his last professional comeback, at 33 years old, Chalykh attempted another one as he had stated that he wants to fight in GLORY again. He was scheduled to face Filip Verlinden who had just challenged for the Enfusion Middleweight (85 kg) title. Chalykh won by unanimous decision. This was his first professional win in over ten years and it would be his last career win as he lost his last two fights in 2018 against Aurel Ignat and Belarusian Kickboxing Legend, Igor Bugaenko.