“Nobody can take me down” - ‘Reug Reug’ scoffs at Anatoly Malykhin’s wrestling credentials ahead of ONE 169 collision
Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane isn't bothered with Anatoly Malykhin's crippling wrestling base.
The Senegalese wrestling machine heads to the biggest match of his career when he challenges Malykhin for the ONE heavyweight MMA world title in the main event of ONE 169 this Friday, US primetime, at the historic Lumpinee Stadium.
In an interview with Nick Atkin for Bangkok Post, Kane said he knows Malykhin's status as a Master of Sport in Freestyle Wrestling in Russia. However, he believes Malykhin doesn't have the capabilities to bring him down to the mat.
'Reug Reug' said:
"I don't care. I am a Senegalese wrestler. I am young. I do wrestling a lot. Nobody can take me down. Pure wrestling, I'm going to teach you."
Malykhin established a reputation as arguably the most lethal knockout machine in all of MMA. The reigning ONE middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight MMA world champion is a perfect 6-0 in ONE Championship, with all six of his wins coming via knockout.
'Sladkiy', however, started his athletic career in the grappling scene and ultimately rose through the ranks of Russia's unforgiving wrestling machine to become a Master of Sport in Freestyle Wrestling.
Despite Malykhin's status in both wrestling and MMA, Kane is confident he can ragdoll the Russian superstar in their Bangkok showdown.
Kane is the perfect personification of Senegal's unique wrestling scene, and he used that style to amass a stellar 5-1 MMA record in ONE Championship.
ONE 169 is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.
Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane promises to silence Anatoly Malykhin in Bangkok
Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane and Anatoly Malykhin have been anything but friendly during the lead-up to their fight.
The pair nearly brawled at the athletes' hotel and during the press conference.
In the same interview with Nick Atkin for Bangkok Post, Kane said he would shut Malykhin up and send the three-division king to the nether realms in their Bangkok showdown:
"I am ready for everything. I'm going to kill this guy. I'm going to knock him out. I'm going to shut his mouth, this guy."
Watch Kane's entire interview below: