- ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Omar Kane will make his first title defense against Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin
- It will be one of the fights to watch at the ONE 173: Superbon vs Noiri in Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on November 16, 2025
- Before the rematch against Russian Malykhin, Senegaese Kane talks about becoming a father
The blessings keep coming for ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane.
Just months after making history as the first African-born athlete to capture a ONE World Title, the Senegalese powerhouse welcomed the most precious person in his life – his daughter.
“Reug Reug,” who will make his first title defense against Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin at ONE 173: Superbon vs Noiri in Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on November 16, finds himself drawing motivation from an entirely new source.
The first-time dad simply can’t contain his joy about welcoming a new life into the world.
He offered:
“I’ve got a baby now, I’m a father. It’s a baby girl. I’m very happy now that I’m a father. It’s difficult, you know? Sometimes she cries, and it’s normal.
“I said, ‘Thank you, God. You gave me a baby.’ I am very, very happy. I won [against Malykhin], and after that, I had a baby.”
“Reug Reug” has always proudly represented his country and culture. But fatherhood has given the Senegalese superstar a perspective that transcends even World Title glory.
The timing of his daughter’s arrival feels almost prophetic to Kane. For a man who rose from the sandy wrestling arenas of Senegal to the global stage of ONE Championship, becoming a father represents yet another chapter in his remarkable story.
Inspired by his baby girl, “Reug Reug” will enter his World Title rematch in November with a new sense of purpose. Aside from defending his 26 pounds of heavyweight MMA gold, Kane wants to set an example to his growing family and build upon his legacy.
The 33-year-old said:
“I want my daughter to know her dad is a warrior and one of the greatest combat sports athletes in history.”
The challenges of balancing fatherhood with the demands of being a World Champion have not been lost on “Reug Reug.”
Training in Dubai while his family remains in Senegal creates a difficult dynamic that weighs heavily on his mind. While the physical separation adds another layer of sacrifice, Kane understands that this temporary situation is a necessary investment in securing his daughter’s future.
The ONE Championship superstar confessed:
“It’s hard, as I train in Dubai. Being away from my family to chase greatness, I have so much to achieve with ONE Championship that I just have to juggle these elements of my life until the time is right to hang up the gloves.”
For “Reug Reug,” the desire to provide for his daughter has further intensified his relentless work ethic.
With his newfound inspiration, every rep in the gym, every hour of training, and every sacrifice carries deeper meaning.
Kane shared:
“If you know me, you know I train, eat, and sleep. This is my life. But now, providing for my daughter is even more important. We always want to give our kids the life we didn’t have, and I have built her a new house in the capital where she can grow up comfortably and happily.”