ONE Championship kicked off it's triple-header of fight cards today from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand with The Inner Circle, featuring the long-awaited heavyweight title rematch between Anatoly Malykhin and Oumar "Reug Reug" Kane.
Russian star Malykhin regained the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Championship in emphatic fashion, finishing Kane in the fourth-round..
The rematch came months after their competitive first meeting in November 2024, and both heavyweights entered the bout determined to leave no doubts this time around.
Kane opened the contest cautiously, using his southpaw stance to maintain range with side kicks and measured counters while Malykhin pressed forward looking to close the distance. The Russian challenger gradually increased the intensity as the fight progressed, unleashing powerful overhand shots whenever opportunities appeared.
Despite the mounting pressure, the Senegalese heavyweight stayed composed. Kane avoided wild exchanges, picked his moments carefully, and even landed a sharp uppercut that briefly caught Malykhin clean. Through the opening three rounds, the matchup remained a strategic battle between two dangerous finishers.
As the contest continued, Kane relied heavily on his kicking game to manage distance, while Malykhin found success with looping hooks and straight right hands. Even after absorbing several clean punches, Kane continued to respond with counters and refused to back down.
The fourth round followed a similar pattern early, with both men exchanging strikes in the center of the ring and searching for a decisive moment. Eventually, Malykhin found the opening he needed.
Representing One Chance Team and Tiger Muay Thai, the Russian landed a perfectly timed right cross that visibly hurt Kane. Sensing the finish, Malykhin surged forward with a relentless combination of punches, forcing referee Olivier Coste to stop the fight at 1:54 of Round 4.
The win moved Malykhin’s professional record to 15-1 and preserved his perfect finishing rate. He also received a US$100,000 performance bonus from ONE Championship Chatri Sityodtong. More importantly, the victory restored his status as a three-division ONE MMA world champion.
Following the celebration, Malykhin appeared emotional as he placed his gloves in the center of the ring, signaling what could be the conclusion of his fighting career.
If this proves to be his final appearance, the Russian standout leaves the sport on a high note, avenging a past defeat, reclaiming heavyweight gold, and further solidifying his legacy in ONE Championship history.Complete Results From ONE: The Inner Circle
Heavyweight MMA World Championship: Anatoly Malykhin defeated Oumar Kane via knockout at 1:54 of Round 4.
Lightweight MMA: Kade Ruotolo defeated Hiroyuki Tetsuka via knockout at 2:02 of Round 2.
Bantamweight Muay Thai: Abdulla Dayakaev defeated Superlek Kiatmuu9 via split decision.
Atomweight Muay Thai: Mia Trevorrow defeated Kokoz via unanimous decision.
