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The announcement of a clash between three-division MMA World Champion Anatoly Malykhin and Senegalese powerhouse “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane sent fight fans into a frenzy. This highly anticipated showdown will be part of ONE Championship’s second U.S. event of 2024, ONE 169: Atlanta. The fight goes down Friday, November 8th at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ever since Kane debuted in ONE Championship, he’s had his sights set on Malykhin. After his last win, Kane made his intentions known, and now he finally gets his shot. “Reug Reug” is chomping at the bit for this opportunity, as evidenced by his recent social media post.

Rueg Reug optimistic ahead of ONE 169 title clash

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Anatoly Malykhin cemented his status as a force to be reckoned with in March of 2024. He defeated Reiner de Ridder at ONE 166: Qatar, claiming the ONE Middleweight MMA World Championship and becoming a three-division king. Malykhin then took to Instagram to stir the pot with his rival, Oumar Kane. Since then, their rivalry has been brewing.

 

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A post shared by Reug Reug (@reugreug)

‘Reug Reug” isn’t mincing words on social media. In a recent Instagram reel, he fired a warning shot at both his doubters and Anatoly Malykhin, declaring he’s coming to “steal the belt.” The caption reads: “From a wild swinging wrestler to an absolute killer! The first African One HW champion will be crowned on US soil in November! I’m about to take out a Russian.” Interestingly, the footage in the reel seems to be a clip from Kane’s fight against Jasur Mirzamukhamedov back in December 2022.

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However, this isn’t the first social media skirmish between Oumar Kane and Anatoly Malykhin. Before the fight announcement of their fight for the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Championship at  ONE 169: Atlanta, Malykhin poked the hornet’s nest by suggesting a fight with Reug Reug would be easy money, in his words.

Anatoly Malykhin’s eyes ‘easy money’ clash with “Reug Reug”

The simmering rivalry between Malykhin and Kane is about to reach a boiling point in Atlanta, Georgia. Both fighters have a chance to silence their doubters with a win on November 8th US primetime. Two weeks ago, “Sladikey” added fuel to the fire with a social media post. His Instagram story featured a photo of himself holding his championship belt, with a photoshopped image of ‘Reug Reug’s” face on a nearby dog.

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The caption, “A dog will always be a dog,’ is a clear shot at Kane. Malykhin ups the ante by adding, in Russian, “ Easy money is on the way.” This implies he sees a potential fight with Kane as a walk in the park.

Who will you be rooting for the upcoming ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion fight between Anatoly Malykhin and Oumar ‘Reug Reug” Kane? Let us know in the comments!