In an unexpected turn of events, the heavyweight division just got a little less spicy. Newly crowned ONE heavyweight MMA world champion Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane from Senegal and his former nemesis, Russia’s Anatoly ‘Sladkiy’ Malykhin, have apparently gone from bitter rivals to newfound bros. Yes, you read that right—bros.
After months of trash talk, face-offs, and enough tension to power a small city, the two fighters finally settled the score at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug in Bangkok last weekend. But instead of keeping the bad blood boiling, the two heavyweights decided to throw in the towel on their beef and hug it out. Not exactly what fans were expecting after a grueling five-round slugfest, but hey, maybe there’s a lesson in there about sportsmanship or…something.
The Senegalese wrecking ball took home the gold in a unanimous decision after dragging Malykhin through the mud for five exhausting rounds. And to everyone’s surprise, instead of continuing their rivalry, they opted for the “let’s be friends” route. Ah, the beauty of MMA—one moment you’re trying to knock each other’s heads off, the next you’re bonding over shared bruises.
When speaking at the post-fight press conference, ‘Reug Reug’ couldn’t have been more casual about their newfound friendship:
“Yes, we’re friends now,” Kane announced, like it was no big deal. You know, just two massive heavyweights who’ve tried to crush each other, suddenly deciding to swap friendship bracelets.
But before you think the bromance was Malykhin’s crowning moment in Kane’s career, think again. When asked if Malykhin was his toughest opponent, the champ barely blinked. “No, actually it was ‘Buchecha’,” he replied, almost like Malykhin was just another name on his hit list. Ouch.
For those who missed the action, ONE 169 went down in the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok on November 9, with fans treated to a heavyweight brawl that lived up to the hype. However, the post-fight make-up session might just steal the headlines for the most unexpected twist of the night. U.S. and Canadian fans can catch the replay on Amazon Prime, but spoiler alert: there’s a lot more hugging than you might have expected.
As for Kane, he’s not just satisfied with that 26-pound gold belt. Nope. The heavyweight champ has his sights set on the next big thing—specifically, a hefty $100K bonus in his next fight. “I’m just going to fight for the 100K,” he said with the kind of confidence that makes you believe he’s already spent the money.
It seems that ‘Reug Reug’ isn’t done collecting trophies or paychecks, and while the Malykhin saga may be over, the chase for those sweet, sweet dollar signs is just heating up. His next opponent? Whoever can bring him a shot at that six-figure payday. Buckle up, because Kane’s not just fighting for belts anymore—he’s fighting for the bag.
Stay tuned for more updates, as Kane looks to keep stacking victories (and cash) in the ONE Championship ring. One thing’s for sure—friendships may come and go, but $100K is forever.
