ONE 169 results: Anatoly Malykhin vs. Reug Reug

Closing out another spectacular night of fights inside the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, ONE heavyweight MMA world champion Anatoly Malykhin put his 26 pounds of gold up for grabs against Senegalese sensation 'Reug Reug' Oumar Kane in the ONE 169 main event on Friday night.

Round 1: Malykhin gets things started with a thudding body blow to Kane and ‘Reug Reug’ comes right back with a vicious kick that echoes throughout the stadium. Kane rushes in and scores a quickfire takedown against the Russian. It’s the first time Malykhin has ever been taken down under the ONE Championship banner, but the champ quickly climbs back to his feet.

Kane grabs the waist lock and picks up Malykhin to slam him back on the mat. Malykhin places his arm over the top ring rope to keep himself upright, prompting referee Herb Dean to issue a warning, similar to how a fighter would get warmed for grabbing the fence of an MMA cage. ‘Reug Reug’ gets the position back as the fight is restarted.

Kane continues to work for a takedown but can’t. His lack of activity prompts Dean to call for more action. In response, Kane attempts to change position and get Malykhin down to the mat. Malykhin instinctively grabs the ropes once again to stay on his feet. That results in a yellow card for Malykhin after he’s already been warned for using the ropes as leverage.

Round 2: Malykhin comes out swinging big and manages to back Kane into the corner. ‘Sladkiy’ drives his body into the torso of ‘Reug Reug’ as the two continue to hand fight. Kane reverses position and Malykhin retreats. Kane once again finds his back against the ropes and Dean steps in once again, this time to warn Kane for grabbing the inside of Malykhin’s gloves.

As the fight resumes, Malykhin rushes in and swings wildly with a right hand that misses the mark. Kane takes advantage momentarily against the ropes, but Malykhin separates and gets back to the center of the ring. Kane throws a head kick followed by a right hand that connects. Malykhin shoots in for a takedown with two minutes to go, but he can’t get ‘Reug Reug’ down.

Malykhin softens him up with a few knees on the inside. With a lack of action, Dean separates them with a minute to go. Kane throws an overhand left that misses. Malykhin fires to the body and Kane comes right back with a left that partially connects. Malykhin swings away but connects with a stiff jab just before the round ends.

Round 3: Kane gets things started by landing a left hand, but Malykhin comes right back with a big right that stuns Kane. Malykhin is starting to land and the Russian fan-favorite is slinging leather, looking for a knockout blow.

Malykhin and Kane tie up in the corner which prompts Dean to once again break them up. Malykhin backs ‘Reug Reug’ into the corner again and unleashes another barrage of strikes on the challenger. Malykhin again clinches up in the 50/50 position. With no work being done, Dean separates them. Malykhin appears to be cut above the left eye as he goes right back to stalking Kane in the corner. Kane throws a jab and Malykhin rips to the body.

Malykhin throws an overhand right and Kane comes back with a straight left. Malykhin throws another right that connects and ‘Reug Reug’ ties up in the middle of the ring. They’re separated by Dean with just 20 seconds left in the round. Malykhin attempts to land a big blow right before he bell, but Kane’s head movement keeps him out of danger.

Round 4: More of the same to start round four with Malykhin marching forward and trying to back Kane into the corner. Malykhin throws a booming right hand that narrowly catches Kane in the center of the ring. Kane responds with a head kick that fails to get through Malykhin’s guard. After a brief exchange in close, the two fighters clinch up, with Kane gaining the advantage. Malykhin promptly reverses in the corner.

With another lull in the action, Dean separates and re-centers them. Malykhin goes right back to clinching in the corner and again, Dean breaks them up with one minute left in the penultimate round. Malykhin fires a right to the body and connects with a big right hand up top. ‘Sladkiy’ lands to more right hands. Khan tries to retaliate with a left but hits nothing but air. Malykhin finishes the round with a punt kick up the middle.

Round 5: Malykhin moves in looking for a big blow, but it’s Kane who lands a right hand that knocks the Russian to the mat. Malykhin quickly recovers and shoots for a takedown in the corner, but Kane reverses the position and gains control of the clinch. Malykhin reverses it back. Dean separates them for the umpteenth time due to a lack of activity, but the fighters end up right back in the same position—clinched up in the corner.

Dean breaks them up again, and they engage in a brief test of strength. Malykhin punches his way back into the corner with 90 seconds to go. The crowd is getting restless due to the lack of activity and Dean has to repeatedly tell Malykhin to keep his hands inside the ring. They’re separated again with a minute to go in the fight. Malykhin lands a one-two combination followed by a nice left hook, but Kane eats it and the bell sounds, bringing an end to the bout.

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ONE 169 - Anatoly Malykhin vs. ‘Reug Reug’ Oumar Kane Official Result

Despite Anatoly Malykhin controlling much of the fight, particularly in the later rounds, two of the three judges saw the bout in favor of ‘Reug Reug,’ naming him the new ONE heavyweight MMA world champion.

The victory also makes Kane the first African-born champion in ONE history and moves him to 7-1 in his mixed martial arts career.

Coming up short for the first time, Anatoly Malykhin falls to 14-1, seeing his ‘O’ and his status as a three-division world champion disappear. For what it’s worth, ‘Sladkiy’ is still the ONE light heavyweight and middleweight world champion and there are plenty of potential challengers out there for both of those belts.

Official Result: Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane defeated Anatoly Malykhin via split decision (ONE heavyweight MMA world championship)