Oumar Kane Says Only Mistake Was Not Finishing Malykhin In First Fight

Anatoly Malykhin can say what he wants. Oumar Kane has the belt. The ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion returned to the spotlight this week to address the Russian superstar's allegations directly. 

The Senegalese fighter wasted little time in cutting through the noise with the kind of blunt, unfiltered confidence that has carried him to the top of the division. 

"I'm running from him? Why would I be scared of this guy, man? This guy has no power. I've already beaten him," Kane said. 

The context behind the tension is no secret.  

A rematch between the two heavyweights had been locked in for ONE 173 in Japan last November, only for Kane to suffer a car accident that ruled him out and shelved one of the most anticipated rematches in ONE Championship history. He has since made a full recovery, and his hunger to settle the score is evident. 

What sets Kane apart, however, is not just his desire for the rematch but the honesty with which he has assessed their first encounter. Despite winning the title, the 33-year-old is under no illusions about where he fell short. 

"Me and my team have had this conversation every day for the last year — what did I do wrong? I think I did a lot right, and the only thing I did wrong is that I didn't finish him," he said. 

It is a remarkable admission from a champion. Kane's coronation in November 2024 was one of the great upsets in ONE Championship history.  

He walked into the bout against an undefeated three-division king in Malykhin and walked out with the heavyweight crown via split decision, delivering a result that reverberated across continents.  

Malykhin, now 38, remains a dangerous and relevant force as the reigning ONE Light Heavyweight and Middleweight MMA World Champion. He has used the period since his first career defeat to keep himself in the conversation, and Kane actually appreciates the theater of it all. 

"Anatoly is a great opponent. He sells the fight. He does everything. When I wind him up, he replies. That's what we need," Kane said.