"Until he says he's done" - Anatoly Malykhin ready to deliver all-out attack on 'Reug Reug'
Three-division ONE MMA world champion Anatoly Malykhin is prepared to get into a knock-down, drag-out battle with Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane at ONE 169 on Friday, Nov. 8, inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand if it means retaining the ONE heavyweight MMA crown.
'Sladkiy' expressed how he plans to remain the king of the 265-pound MMA division in an interview with the Bangkok Post:
"I'm willing to fight for as long as my opponent is willing to take. Either until he says he's done or his corner man decides to throw in the towel."
ONE fans have grown accustomed to seeing Malykhin easily outclass his opponents thanks to his exemplary boxing abilities, which have given him an undefeated record through six fights in the world's largest martial arts promotion.
However, the Golden Team fighter has yet to face a wrestler on the same level as Kane. The 32-year-old is coming off a sensational unanimous decision win over 17-time BJJ world champion Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida at ONE Fight Night 13 in August 2023 to cement his first opportunity at a ONE world championship.
Anatoly Malykhin labels 'Reug Reug' as 'average'
Anatoly Malykhin, who also holds the ONE light heavyweight and middleweight MMA crowns, sees nothing special in Oumar Kane. Instead, he views him as just another opponent to dominate in his quest to become an MMA legend.
Speaking with ONE, the 36-year-old tore into his first challenger for the 265-pound MMA crown:
"He's the weakest of my opponents. 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."
ONE 169 will air live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.