“It didn’t happen overnight” - ‘Reug Reug’ looks back at his early days in Senegal’s wrestling sandpits heading into ONE 169: Atlanta

Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane is heading into the biggest fight of his career, but he hasn't forgotten the brutal path he started in Senegal.

The bruising wrestling machine will challenge three-division MMA world champion Anatoly Malykhin for the ONE heavyweight MMA world title at ONE 169: Atlanta.

Ahead of his world title shot on November 8 at State Farm Arena, Kane looked back at how he started in Senegal's wrestling sand pits and how he developed into an absolute wrecking machine in MMA.

'Reug Reug' posted on Instagram:

"It didn't happen overnight. Had to master my craft ✌️"

Kane didn't just become a star in Senegalese Wrestling, but he absolutely dominated the competition during his tenure in the sport.

The 32-year-old held a perfect 16-0 record in his base discipline before he transitioned to MMA.

Kane eventually made his ONE Championship debut in 2021 at ONE: Unbreakable II when he knocked out Alain Ngalani in the opening round.

He has since built an impressive 5-1 MMA record in the promotion, with his biggest victory coming off at the expense of BJJ legend Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida at ONE Fight Night 13.

Tickets for ONE 169: Atlanta are now available at Ticketmaster.

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'Reug Reug' downplays Anatoly Malykhin's striking

Anatoly Malykhin has to be the most fearsome knockout artist in MMA, but Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane vehemently denied that notion.

'Sladkiy' is a perfect 6-0 in ONE Championship, with all six of his wins coming by way of knockout.

He used that devastating power to capture the ONE middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight MMA world titles, yet Kane downplayed the Russian monster's striking pedigree.

Kane told the South China Morning Post:

"Yeah, it's easy for me. I do it easy, you know. Malykhin doesn't do high kicks, only punches. But in MMA, it's everything."