Reug Reug Becomes ONE’s First African Champion, Defeating Anatoly Malykhin in Narrow Decision

ONE 169: Reug Reug with the team after the win

Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane made history at ONE 169 on Friday, securing the heavyweight title with a close split-decision win over Anatoly Malykhin. Held at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, the matchup was intense but somewhat uneventful, as both fighters often found themselves locked up along the ropes, with limited action between breaks.

Malykhin, a former triple champion across multiple weight classes, entered the bout with the heavyweight belt, having previously conquered the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions as well. Despite Kane’s impressive power, Malykhin (14-1) was often the more active fighter in the exchanges, though he struggled to connect with accuracy. Malykhin threw heavy punches that sometimes landed but often fell just short of their target.

The most critical moment of the fight came in the fourth round, where Kane delivered a blow that sent Malykhin to the mat. It was hard to tell if the incident was a true knockdown or more of a slip, but it underscored Kane’s durability and power. As the fifth and final round ended, two of the three judges favored Kane’s performance, granting him the split-decision victory with a 7-1 record overall.

The arena erupted in celebration as the referee announced Kane’s win, officially crowning him as ONE Championship’s first African champion. Confetti filled the stadium as Kane’s corner celebrated wildly, with referee Herb Dean narrowly avoiding the joyous chaos.

Kane’s victory is the latest chapter in his meteoric rise in MMA. He originally gained fame as a wrestler in Senegal before transitioning to MMA in 2019, bringing a unique mix of strength, physique, and athleticism. His only previous loss came in 2021 when he was stopped by Kirill Grishenko via TKO. This victory over Malykhin not only gave Kane the heavyweight title but also served as redemption from his earlier setback.

Meanwhile, Malykhin, who suffered his first professional loss, retains two other belts in his collection despite losing the heavyweight title. The defeat may mark a turning point for both fighters in ONE’s heavyweight division.