‘Everyone Knows Me Now’ – Reug Reug Embraces Historic Rise To Stardom After Winning Heavyweight MMA World Title
The magnitude of “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane’s achievement didn’t fully hit him until he stepped off the plane in Dakar.
Last November, thousands of fans welcomed the newly crowned ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion home to Senegal in an epic celebration that felt more like a presidential homecoming than a fighter’s return.
Just days earlier, Kane had made history at ONE 169, becoming the first fighter from his nation to capture an MMA World Title when he dethroned multi-division king Anatoly “Sladky” Malykhin. The victory marked the culmination of an extraordinary journey from a Senegalese Wrestling Champion to a global mixed martial arts superstar.
Now, months after that career-defining performance, “Reug Reug” is still coming to terms with the fame that comes with being a ONE World Champion.
Speaking to onefc.com, the 33-year-old powerhouse reflected on his newfound celebrity status and the responsibility that comes with representing an entire continent:
“I am a big man in Africa. In Africa, everybody knows me. Everybody supports me. It’s the first time that a World Champion from ONE is coming from Africa, so everybody’s happy.
The President is happy, the people, everybody’s happy. I’m very, very happy. I am the first to do this one. But I say thank you to God. Everything is from God.”
Kane’s rise to prominence has been nothing short of meteoric.
He came to ONE Championship through a less-than-traditional route, first establishing himself as a household name in his homeland. But winning a World Title on the global stage has elevated his status to unprecedented heights.
The transformation has been evident in “Reug Reug’s” daily life. Where he could once move relatively anonymously outside of Africa, his victory has made him a recognizable figure across continents, including in Dubai, where he’s lived for the past four years.
He said the attention has been overwhelming but also welcome:
“I’m better known in Africa than in Dubai. But now, everybody knows me. I’m the World Champion, so everybody’s gonna know me. When I go outside, people take out their phones and ask, ‘Can I have a picture?’
“It’s people from Thailand, from the Philippines. I get a lot of attention now. I like that I have fans who love me from before, and now I have new fans. I am a ONE World Champion, so everyone knows me now.”
Beyond the personal recognition, “Reug Reug” sees his championship as a beacon of hope for anyone with big dreams.
His story parallels that of his friend and fellow ONE superstar, former long-reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon. Both fighters rose from humble beginnings to become World Champions who can now provide for their families and communities.
Kane hopes fans can find inspiration in his rags-to-riches story:
“Anything is possible. Me and Rodtang have the same story. We had nothing growing up, and now we are able to provide for not just our family, but also our friends and business partners. It’s a dream that is achievable for everyone who wants to work hard and dream of being the greatest.
“It’s not about combat sports. It’s about just applying yourself to whatever you choose to do! Look at our President – he wanted to be a great leader, and he’s doing great things within our country. Just aiming to be the greatest at what you do is enough to achieve a successful life.”
A Living Legend In Senegalese Schools
Perhaps no recognition has meant more to “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane than becoming part of his country’s educational curriculum.
The heavyweight MMA king has achieved something few athletes ever experience – being required learning material for an entire generation of students.
He explained:
“I’m actually a case study in secondary schools now. So when kids are in secondary school, there’s a subject exam where the questions are about me. It’s incredible. What an honor it is for a sportsman to achieve in life. I strive to be the greatest sportsman I can be, but to be on school papers is something I could never dream of.”
The honor places “Reug Reug” alongside the greatest figures in Senegalese history.
For a man who grew up idolizing his country’s sporting heroes, particularly in traditional wrestling, the recognition represents the ultimate validation of his journey from student to wrestler to legend.
Senegalese wrestling has long been woven into the cultural fabric of the nation, producing generations of celebrated champions. Kane was no different, spending his youth studying these icons and dreaming of joining their ranks.
Now, having transcended traditional wrestling to conquer mixed martial arts, he has achieved something even his childhood heroes never accomplished:
“All of our football heroes we have learned about. We have had so many. In combat sports, Senegalese wrestling is such a huge part of our culture, and this was my education.
“I ate, drank, and slept learning about these stars and dreaming of becoming one. Now, I’m not ashamed to say I’m the greatest of them all.”
