Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane Stuns Anatoly Malykhin, Takes Heavyweight Title Via Split Decision

Senegalese sensation Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane shocked the world at ONE 169 in Bangkok, scoring a cut up choice victory over Anatoly Malykhin to say the ONE heavyweight title.

Issues received off to a smashing begin for Kane within the opening spherical as he shortly took Malykhin to the mat — changing into the primary fighter to ever accomplish that contained in the Circle — and promptly ragdolling him. Nonetheless, Malykhin made a behavior out of placing his arm over the ring ropes to remain upright which is akin to grabbing the cage in a extra conventional MMA setting.

That prompted referee Herb Dean to subject a powerful warning that ultimately resulted in a yellow card when Malykhin did it a second time.

Regardless of the early setback, Malykhin seemed to be in management for a lot of the final three rounds, repeatedly cornering ‘Reug Reug’ and touchdown a couple of large blows earlier than fishing for a takedown he’d by no means fairly land. Dean stayed busy by breaking the fighters up each couple of minutes, however earlier than lengthy, they’d find yourself again in the identical place. Issues went that method for a lot of the ultimate 10 minutes, main many to consider that Malykhin’s aggression and management time would in the end win him the struggle after going the space for the primary time in his profession.

As a substitute, the judges in Bangkok threw struggle followers for a loop, crowning Kane the brand new ONE heavyweight king through a considerably controversial cut up choice.

Official Consequence: Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane def. Anatoly Malykhin through cut up choice to win the ONE heavyweight world championship.

With the win, Kane turns into ONE Championship’s first African-born titleholder.

In the meantime, Anatoly Malykhin suffered the primary lack of his profession, falling to 14-1 and seeing his coveted standing as MMA’s first and only simultaneous three-division champion disappear. Nonetheless, ‘Sladkiy’ has each the ONE mild heavyweight and middleweight world titles — two belts with loads of challengers chomping on the bit to problem the Russian juggernaut.

Try highlights from Anatoly Malykin vs. Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane at ONE 169: