Anatoly Malykhin Defends Title Against ‘Reug Reug’ in ONE 169: Highlights and Analysis

Anatoly Malykhin, the undefeated three-division king, defended his ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title against Senegalese Wrestling Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane in the highly anticipated main event of ONE 169. The fight took place on November 8 at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and was broadcast live in U.S. primetime.

Malykhin, with a flawless record of 14 wins, all by finish and none extending beyond the third round, was the prohibitive favorite going into the bout. His dominance includes two victories over former two-division champion Reinier de Ridder. Despite his impressive record, former UFC middleweight champion and current ONE VP Rich Franklin cautioned against underestimating “Reug Reug,” who has been improving with each fight and possesses unorthodox striking due to his wrestling background.

The pre-fight tensions were palpable, with Malykhin and “Reug Reug” engaging in a heated faceoff during the ceremonial weigh-ins, necessitating separation by officials. This intensity set the stage for a highly anticipated and potentially explosive matchup.

In addition to the main event, ONE 169 featured other significant fights, including a co-main event where former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon faced British rival Jacob Smith. Rodtang, however, was ineligible to reclaim the title due to failing to make weight and pass his hydration test. The event also included a bout for the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship between Filipino-American Jackie Buntan and top female pound-for-pound striker Anissa Meksen.

The event was widely available, broadcast live in over 190 countries, and streamed on various platforms including Prime Video, Sky Sports, and the ONE Championship YouTube and Facebook channels.