ONE 169: Reug Reug says 'high level' Buchecha is a far tougher opponent than Anatoly Malykhin
'Reug Reug' Oumar Kane believes his upcoming opponent Anatoly Malykhin won't be the toughest of his ONE Championship tenure.
On July 5, Kane stepped outside of his comfort zone and tested himself in a kickboxing bout at ONE Fight Night 23. Despite primarily being a grappler, the Senegalese powerhouse showcased his improved striking skills by securing a first-round knockout win against Boucher Ketchup.
The 32-year-old quickly turns his attention to what's next, as he's scheduled for a life-changing opportunity later this year. On November 8, 'Reug Reug' will challenge three-division MMA world champion Anatoly Malykhin for his heavyweight strap in the ONE 169: Atlanta main event.
During an interview with the South China Morning Post, Kane was asked if Malykhin is the biggest fight of his career. The heavyweight MMA title challenger responded by praising his former opponent Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida:
"No, no. My biggest fight is Buchecha, you know. That guy is at a high level. A top-level, you know."
Heading into ONE 169, 'Reug Reug' Oumar Kane has established a promotional MMA record of 5-1, including three wins inside the distance. He's riding a three-fight win streak after securing a unanimous decision against legendary jiu-jitsu competitor Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida in August 2023.
Watch Kane's entire interview with the South China Morning Post below:
Anatoly Malykhin plans to extend undefeated promotional run by taking out Reug Reug
'Reug Reug' Oumar Kane has full confidence he will emerge victorious in the ONE 169: Atlanta main event. With that said, the Senegalese powerhouse must be prepared for a tough test, as Anatoly Malykhin has separated himself as arguably the most dangerous fighter in the Chatri Sityodtong-run promotion.
Since making his ONE debut, Malykhin has established a 6-0 promotional MMA record, all wins by KO/TKO. Along the way, 'Sladkiy' has defeated several well-respected opponents to become a three-division world champion, including Reinier de Ridder x2, Arjan Bhullar, and Amir Aliakbari.
Only time will tell if Kane can be the one to halt Malykhin's momentum. Tickets for the highly-anticipated ONE 169: Atlanta event can be found here.