‘Why Would I Be Scared?’ – Reug Reug Fires Back At Claims He’s Avoiding Anatoly Malykhin Rematch
Senegalese wrestling sensation “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane is ready to emerge from the shadows and break his silence.
Since capturing the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Championship from former titleholder Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin at ONE 169 in November 2024, their highly anticipated rematch was firmly in the pipeline.
That was until Kane was forced to the sidelines after suffering an injury in a car accident in Dubai last year.
But while he has spent the last few months recovering from that harrowing ordeal, his Russian rival has been vocal, accusing him of delaying their inevitable rematch.
Now, the heavyweight MMA kingpin is firing back.
Kane laughed off the idea that he is avoiding the man he already dethroned. For the African icon, the equation is quite simple — he walked through Malykhin’s best shots once, and he is ready to do it again.
“Reug Reug” said:
“I’m running from him? Why would I be scared of this guy, man? This guy has no power. I’ve already beaten him.
“Before I fought him the first time, I thought his left hook was very hard and powerful. During our fight, I thought to myself, why is it that when he hits people, they go down? I’m thinking about this and I ask myself why when I took it, it was easy? I ate this like it was easy.”
The first meeting between the two titans ended in a historic upset, with Kane handing the Russian juggernaut the first loss of his professional career via split decision. Prior to that showdown, Malykhin had an almost invincible aura.
“Reug Reug” shattered that image with ungodly strength and brute force, making history that night as the first-ever ONE World Champion from Africa.
While Malykhin has spent the time clamoring for a rematch to correct what he calls a mistake, Kane warns that the version of himself returning to the Circle will be even more dangerous than the one who claimed the gold:
“I’m not running away from you Malykhin. Why would I run away, bro? I beat you. I fought you for five rounds, why would I run away? The next version of Oumar Kane is coming. The hungry Oumar.
“Me and my team have had this conversation every day for the last year — what did I do wrong? I think I did a lot right, and the only thing I did wrong is that I didn’t finish him.”
Reug Reug Offers Rare Praise For Malykhin
The bad blood between the two heavyweight MMA greats is real. That said, “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane possesses a deep understanding of the fight game’s bigger picture. He recognizes that a rivalry of this magnitude — spanning continents and unique fighting styles — is exactly what the division needs.
Malykhin, who still holds the ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight MMA World Titles, remains one of the sport’s most charismatic figures. His easy-going personality, entertaining social media antics, and “Sladkiy” persona have kept the fans engaged even during Kane’s time away.
The Senegalese king appreciates the hustle, noting that their friction drives the narrative that fans pay to see. Kane explained:
“Anatoly is a great opponent. He sells the fight. He does everything. When I wind him up, he replies. That’s what we need. It’s good having good fighters. It’s great having great fighters. But we need to entertain the fans. We’re here to entertain the fans.”
With Kane now seemingly recovered and back in the gym — and Malykhin waiting in the wings — the stage is set for one of the most anticipated rematches in ONE Championship history.
The first fight ended the Russian’s undefeated reign at the top of ONE’s heavyweight MMA mountain. The second promises to settle the score once and for all.
While no official date has been set for their collision, one thing is certain. When the Circle door finally closes, “Reug Reug” plans to do more than just win — he plans to finish their story and end their rivalry for good:
“People are paying money to see two men beat each other up, but they want the story beforehand. You want people to care about the journey we’re taking them on.
“For everyone watching, they’re only watching that 25 minutes, and then they move on to the next fight. For us, this is one year’s work. I’m putting one year’s worth into every fight in ONE Championship.”
