At a Glance
- Oumar Kane, known as “Reug Reug,” announces the end of his run with ONE Championship after about five years with the organization.
- The Senegalese fighter had won the ONE Championship heavyweight title in November 2024, before losing it by knockout to Russia’s Anatoly Malykhin in May 2026.
- The announcement was confirmed in a statement and picked up by several Senegalese outlets, including SeneNews and wiwsport, which report a direct quote from the fighter.
Five years after making his debut with ONE Championship, Oumar Kane, better known as “Reug Reug,” is turning the page. The Senegalese fighter has announced the end of his run with the Singapore-based organization, news confirmed in a statement and picked up by several Senegalese outlets, including SeneNews and wiwsport.
“I Couldn’t Continue”
In comments reported by wiwsport, Reug Reug explained his decision by pointing to events surrounding his last fight, without going into detail: “After everything that happened before, during and after my last fight, I couldn’t continue…” A statement that leaves the door open to several interpretations, with the fighter not offering further specifics, at this stage, on the exact reasons for his departure.
A Rapid Rise to the Top of the Division
Known for the speed of his rise after joining ONE Championship, Oumar Kane went on to win the organization’s heavyweight title in November 2024, becoming one of the promotion’s most popular faces, particularly among Senegalese and, more broadly, West African fans, where MMA has long coexisted with traditional wrestling. His reign, however, was short-lived: in May 2026, Russia’s Anatoly Malykhin took the belt from him by knockout in Bangkok, ending his run as champion after a little over a year and a half on top.
SeneNews, the outlet that first reported the statement announcing this split, summed up the situation by noting that “Reug Reug leaves ONE Championship at a pivotal moment in his career, raising questions about his future ambitions and the direction his international career will take.” A reminder that this split comes as the Senegalese fighter has not competed since his loss to Malykhin, with no return date mentioned since.
A Career That Raises Questions About What’s Next
ONE Championship, a Singapore-based organization broadcast worldwide, has built itself up in recent years as one of the UFC’s leading international rivals, relying in particular on a format mixing MMA, kickboxing and Muay Thai. The heavyweight division there remains one of the thinnest, and Reug Reug’s rapid rise to the top of that division had been one of the most talked-about storylines of recent seasons, before his loss to Malykhin reshuffled the deck.
For now, neither Reug Reug nor his camp has said anything about a possible next destination, whether in another MMA organization or in another combat discipline. The Senegalese outlets closely following his career, such as SeneNews, wiwsport or Lutte TV, should be the first to report any future announcement, given the coverage they have already devoted to this split with ONE Championship.
This closing chapter is also a reminder of how far Oumar Kane has come since his beginnings. Few amateur fighters of his generation climbed the ranks of an international organization like ONE Championship as quickly, going on to become a world champion in one of MMA’s most prestigious divisions. Whether or not the rest of his career continues in a cage, this chapter with ONE Championship will have left a lasting mark on Senegalese and West African MMA, at a time when several fighters from the region are in turn trying to break through on the international scene.
FAQ
Who is Reug Reug?
Reug Reug is the cage name of Oumar Kane, a Senegalese fighter who competed with ONE Championship for about five years, where he was heavyweight champion.
Why is Reug Reug leaving ONE Championship?
He points to events surrounding his last fight, without giving further detail: “After everything that happened before, during and after my last fight, I couldn’t continue…”
Does Reug Reug still hold the ONE Championship heavyweight title?
No. He won it in November 2024 but lost it by knockout to Anatoly Malykhin in May 2026.
