Without saying anything about his career, many observers consider Oumar Kane known as “Reug Reug” as the “best wrestler” of all time in traditional non-strike wrestling in Senegal.
In striking wrestling, he has 15 victories, 2 without a verdict and 1 defeat in 18 fights. Last November 8, in Mma (Mixed martial arts), the child from Thiaroye became the world heavyweight champion of the One Championship after his historic triumph against the Russian Anatoliy Malykhin. A victory which makes him one of the sure values of African and global MMA. Portrait of an eternal fighter!
Oumar Kane says “Reug Reug” on the roof of the world! It’s in Mixed martial arts (Mma). The Senegalese wrestler made the history of this discipline by defeating Anatoliy Malykhin, during the fight for the title of heavyweight champion of the One Championship, the queen organization in Asia. “Reug Reug” had however sent a strong message to the Russian champion after his victory over Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, 17 times world champion in Bjj (Brazilian jiu-jitsu) and undefeated in the One Heavyweight Championship in MMA.
A victory which marks a turning point in his career. His victory is all the more remarkable as Malykhin had never lost a single fight before. With this historic feat, “Reug Reug” became the first Senegalese champion of a large Mma organization and in Senegal, we continue to rejoice about it. A triumphant welcome was given to him on Friday, November 15, upon his return home. “With this world title that he won, Reug Reug offered his stronghold, Thiaroye, what he never had as a trophy or title,” says Ousmane Diop, former wrestler from Thiaroye and one of the best of his generation. “Reug Reug” came from very far away. His father Diagar Kane died when he was a young boy.
Along with his two siblings, he lived with their mother. Lacking the means to meet their pressing needs, their paternal uncle, Aladji Kane, assumed the role of guardian of the family. The wrestler never forgot this support: “My uncle took care of us; he felt that it was now his responsibility.” Where did his nickname come from? “It was my uncle who gave me the nickname Reug Reug. He always thought I had a warrior spirit and attitude. That’s what pushed him to give me this nickname Reug Reug,” explains the wrestler. This name was that of a character in a Senegalese TV film which was broadcast on national television, more than thirty years ago. The young Oumar Kane could not escape the practice of wrestling. His paternal grandfather, Modou Kane, we are told, was a very talented wrestler. His maternal grandfather, Modou Diène, was also a great wrestling champion. “Reug Reug” therefore had wrestling in its blood. He had the legitimacy to become a wrestling champion.
THY ENTRY INTO THE ARENA
It was in 2010 that the young Oumar Kane was entrusted to manager Palla Diop. “He did not have a national identity card and was obliged to show me a copy of his birth certificate to find one for him,” reveals Palla Diop. When they went to the Cng, he informs, the Administrative Director had notified them that the athlete could not have a hitting license. “We advised him to start with simple wrestling where he ended up achieving great feats and winning numerous trophies,” rejoices the manager. On December 25, 2011, “Reug Reug” fought his first fight against “Clinton” from the Walo stable.
The latter was declared the winner after a fall which was not clear. Not accepting the verdict, Thiaroye’s child then filed an appeal before the Regulations and Discipline Commission of the Cng. After viewing the videos of the confrontation, the Commission decided to overturn the arbitration decision and make it without a verdict. With this mixed result, some considered that the grandson of Pope Kane had made a timid entry into striking wrestling. Three months after this fight against Clinton, he rectified the situation by beating Alioune Sèye Jr de Jaxaay (March 11, 2012), before dictating his law to Boy Niague 2 (April 15, 2012) and to Boy Diouf (May 20, 2012), and finished its 2011-2012 season in style.
At the time resident in Thiaroye-Cap-Vert, he followed his path, crushing in his path Obama (February 7, 2014), Sa Ngoumbeu (June 22), Bazooka Bou Ngoye (May 2, 2015). Successes which gave him wings and allowed him to tickle the champions of the higher levels. And to demonstrate its true supremacy, “Reug Reug” dominated Fall Yarakh (June 6, 2016). After this triumph, no hope could refuse to fight with him. This is how he swept away Balla Gaye Jr (January 30, 2016) before suffocating Brise-de-Mer.
His oiled machine, “Reug Reug” had to pass tests against heavyweights. Already mentally and technically strong, he went on a commando mission against Bébé Saloum (February 4, 2017) and Jordan (May 22, 2017) whom the former African champion in his category (+100 kg) crushed. He continued his route to pin Elton from the Balla Gaye school (March 31, 2018), then Gris 2 from Fass (June 15, 2019). “Gouye Gui” from the Mor Fadam school (February 20, 2022) was added to the list of his victims. These successful outings allowed him to gain momentum very quickly, before coming to a halt.
Its rise will be slowed down by Sa Thiès (March 5, 2023). But “Reug Reug” will manage to bounce back after its feat against Bombardier (December 24, 2023); a success which allowed him to join the VIP circle. The current world champion of the One Championship was to challenge, on January 1, 2025, Boy Niang 2 of Pikine. An unexpected injury to its protagonist caused the long-awaited poster to be postponed. His manager, Palla Diop, remains convinced that Reug Reug will become “King of the arenas”. Gris 2, who recorded the only defeat of his career against “Reug Reug”, testifies: “When I agreed to fight with Reug Reug, many of those close to me were not in phase with me. I couldn’t avoid him, knowing that he was a champion in the making. I told myself that I had to confront it; I did it and he beat me.”
-Gris Bordeaux’s little brother says that “Reug Reug has a future in the arena and in MMA, because he has everything an athlete needs to succeed.”
REVEALED IN MMA IN 2019
Having proven himself in striking wrestling, Reug Reug (32 years old, 1m93, 120 kg) is immersed in Mma by Ares 1 Fc. It was on the occasion of the first event of the French entity organized on December 14, 2019 at the Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar. The Ares Fighting Championship organization, the first Afro-European league, decided to organize this first major Mma event in Africa. The clash between the experienced Sofiane Boukichou, veteran of Cage Warriors, one of the best European organizations, and “Reug Reug” had polarized all passions. The “Lightning” of Thiaroye had passed this first test with talent.
A businessman and great lover of our traditional sport, Leyti Sène created the young Oumar Kane from scratch, who later became his foal. “I met Reug Reug in 2013. His mother and his paternal uncle had entrusted him to me so that I could accompany him,” reveals the businessman. In Mma, “Reug Reug” made his debut at the One Championship on Friday, January 22, 2021, in Singapore. He then dominated Cameroonian Alain Ngalani. Leyti Sène opens this page of history: “We had the chance to sign contracts with Ares, a French league sponsored (at the time) by the Franco-Cameroonian Fernand Lopez”.
After specifying that these contracts were signed in the middle of Covid-19, the wrestler’s agent regrets that the pandemic has turned everything upside down since “Reug Reug”, because of the ban at the time on the practice of MMA in France, had to fight in Germany, South Africa and the United States. “We broke up with Ares and signed new contracts with One Championship,” informs the chaperone of Thiaroye’s “Foudre”. After a not at all easy journey in this league, “Reug Reug” has become a darling of international social networks.
In this sport which continues to gain popularity, he has recorded prestigious victories against fighters steeped in quality; which allowed him to write his own story. And since Friday November 8, following his triumph against Anatoliy Malykhin, “Reug Reug” has become world champion of this prestigious Singapore league. The President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, honored by this feat, elevated him to the rank of Knight of the Order of Merit.
Today, his biggest dream is to face Cameroonian Francis Ngannou, holder of the PFL heavyweight champion belt, in a 100% African duel. Can he win this fight from the “Giants” of Africa? For the French expert, Bertrand Amoussou, “Reug Reug” is starting to have a good experience. “I don’t know if he will have the opportunity to meet Ngannou. For me, if he wants to face the best, he must go to UFC,” he maintains.
The title of world heavyweight champion of the One Championship is enough to boost the career of “Reug Reug” who boasts a record in Mma of 7 victories against 1 defeat in 8 fights. “The path has been too long and strewn with pitfalls, but we had set ourselves objectives to achieve,” believes Leyti Sène, who recognizes having been an added value in the success of “Reug Reug”. And the prospects are encouraging for the Mma champion who wants to contribute to the creation of jobs for young people and the fight against irregular immigration.
By Abdoulaye DEMBÉLÉ
