“This guy’s got nothing” - Anatoly Malykhin doesn’t see anything special in Senegalese challenger ‘Reug Reug’
Anatoly Malykhin doesn't see anything special about his next heavyweight MMA title challenger.
This Friday night, November 8, the three-sport king will return to the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand to put his ONE heavyweight MMA world championship on the line against Senegalese sensation 'Reug Reug' Oumar Kane at ONE 169.
It will be Malykhin's first time defending the title after trading in his interim belt for undisputed gold against ex-champion Arjan Bhullar at ONE Friday Fights 22 last year.
While it will be Malykhin's first title defense, it will all be Kane's first shot at a ONE world title after delivering an impressive performance against BJJ megastar Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida at ONE Fight Night 13.
However, the Russian juggernaut was not impressed with what 'Reug Reug' accomplished against Almeida.
"He’s the weakest of my opponents," Malykhin told ONE Championship. "This guy’s got nothing — he can’t strike, he can’t wrestle, he doesn’t have jiu-jitsu, and physically, he’s just an average heavyweight."
'Reug Reug' promises something new against Anatoly Malykhin
While Anatoly Malykhin may not have seen much out of 'Reug Reug' in his seven promotional appearances inside the Circle, fight fans may see it differently.
Oumar Kane has earned four impressive knockouts on martial arts' biggest global stage, besting Alan Ngalani, Patrick Schmid, and Batradz Gazzaev in MMA bouts before landing a vicious first-round KO against countryman Boucher Ketchup in a kickboxing bout at ONE Fight Night 23.
But of all the skills you've seen 'Reug Reug' display inside the Circle so far, he promises to deliver something new against the Russian juggernaut.
"It's not the same thing as any of my previous fights," Kane told ONE. "The mentality is different. The power is different. The skills are going to be different."
Fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE 169: Malykhin vs. ‘Reug Reug’ live on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, November 8 in U.S. primetime.