An automotive collision caused a postponement. A verbal dispute ensued. Presently, half a year beyond its initial schedule, Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane at last has the opportunity to demonstrate his genuine capability.
Kane is set to defend his ONE Heavyweight MMA World Championship for the inaugural occasion against Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin, a former ONE MMA World Champion across three divisions, headlining The Inner Circle event. This will be broadcast live to subscribers via live.onefc.com from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, May 15. The 33-year-old athlete from Senegal, who holds a professional record of 7 wins and 1 loss in mixed martial arts and a streak of five victories, approaches this second encounter. Their initial confrontation occurred at ONE 169 in November 2024, when Kane concluded Malykhin’s spotless record by securing a split decision, thereby becoming the inaugural ONE World Champion originating from Africa and inflicting the first defeat upon the Russian’s professional journey.
Their previously arranged ONE 173 rematch was canceled after Kane sustained injuries in an automobile collision mere weeks prior to the bout evening. Malykhin openly expressed doubts regarding his opponent’s dedication. Kane brushed off these remarks and maintained his training regimen. The contest is now imminent, and Kane has utilized the additional intervening period to evolve into a more formidable adversary.
“I have overhauled every aspect, implementing enhancements across all my abilities. A transformed Oumar is emerging. Anticipate me to exhibit greater strength, increased power — and enhanced speed. Simultaneously, I believe Anatoly will also show improvement. I foresee him being significantly more formidable than in our initial bout. To underrate him would be an error,” he declared.
“I possess a thorough understanding of him currently. This encounter will be straightforward for me. Having faced him within the squared circle, I comprehend Anatoly’s essence. I am familiar with his maneuvers — I am aware of everything.”
Oumar Kane observes Malykhin’s newfound reticence
Oumar Kane’s preparations extend beyond merely securing victory. He is focused on resolving the disagreement definitively, in a manner that precludes any further contention.
Malykhin enters the fray as the current ONE Middleweight and ONE Light Heavyweight MMA World Champion, boasting a professional tally of 14 victories against 1 defeat. That singular blemish on his record was inflicted by Kane. The Russian has maintained a low profile verbally during the promotional period, and Kane believes he understands the precise reason for this silence.
“He remains silent presently because he acknowledges my superior fighting ability. His current lack of dialogue stems from fear. That is the unvarnished reality,” he asserted.
“Lest there be any misunderstanding, he is a competent combatant. However, having competed against him, I now realize our skill sets are not equivalent. A significant disparity exists. Approaching this bout, I am certain that Anatoly and I operate on different echelons. Nevertheless, I extend to him the deference he has earned. Undoubtedly, he possesses commendable fighting prowess. Yet, he remains incapable of defeating me. He shall never triumph over me.”
