5 Reasons To Be Excited About The World Title Fight Between Anatoly Malykhin And ‘Reug Reug’ At ONE 169: Atlanta
A massive World Title fight is officially heading to State Farm Arena at ONE 169: Atlanta.
On November 8, historic three-division titleholder Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin will put his ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title on the line against Senegalese behemoth “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane in an explosive showdown between two of the planet’s hardest hitters.
Naturally, fans are anxious with anticipation over this clash of titans on United States soil.
These are five reasons why the battle between Malykhin and “Reug Reug” has all the makings of an unforgettable classic.
#1 Bad Blood Is Brewing
This highly anticipated matchup will come with a healthy dose of bad blood.
Both men have traded barbs on social media in the past, and things have only heated up in the last several weeks, with Kane calling out “Sladkiy” as a “fake champion,” and the Russian commenting on almost every one of “Reug Reug’s” recent posts.
Now several months out from the fight, fans can expect tensions to escalate further.
And when the athletes are finally locked in the Circle together, all that bad blood is sure to spill over into a dramatic, action-packed bout.
#2 Two Monsters Who Are Nearly Flawless In MMA
On paper, this contest represents a meeting between two of the best heavyweight mixed martial artists in the sport – each at the top of their game.
Malykhin boasts an incredible list of accomplishments. The 36-year-old is undefeated across 14 professional bouts, owns a 100 percent finishing rate, and is the first three-division MMA World Champion in history. Simply put, he has achieved greatness at levels that never before seemed possible.
For his part, “Reug Reug” is a former Senegalese Wrestling Champion and has lost just once in his MMA career. Since that defeat, he has shown marked improvements in his cardio, game planning, and all-around skill set – a scary proposition for any man who crosses his path.
#3 They Are Master Grapplers With Terrifying Power
Stylistically, “Sladkiy” and Kane should deliver white-knuckle action no matter where the fight goes. That’s because both men are elite grapplers with thunderous power in their hands and a penchant for finding the knockout.
While he’s perhaps best known for his vicious boxing attack, the defending titleholder is a Master of Sport in freestyle wrestling, having competed at a high level since he was a child in Siberia.
“Reug Reug” is also a devastating knockout artist, and like Malykhin, he comes from a wrestling background. Prior to making his MMA debut, the 32-year-old had established himself as a bona fide star in his wrestling-obsessed nation of Senegal.
#4 Kane’s Chance To Become A Global Megastar
For the challenger, this fight is his opportunity to turn himself into a massive star in the blink of an eye.
If he can take out Malykhin, “Reug Reug” would become the first-ever African-born ONE World Champion and end the most dominant reign of terror in ONE Championship.
Of course, Kane is already a well-known global sensation, but a victory over the three-division kingpin would elevate him to new heights, so fans can look forward to him putting everything on the line at ONE 169.
#5 They’re Motivated To Entertain American Fans
Finally, this World Title showdown will be each man’s long-awaited North American debut.
Given the blockbuster nature of this event – coupled with the opportunity to gain legions of fans in the U.S. – both Malykhin and “Reug Reug” are undoubtedly motivated to deliver an epic performance in Atlanta.
