A highly anticipated heavyweight title fight rematch has been scratched from the upcoming ONE 173.
Heavyweight champ “Reug Reug,” properly Oumar Kane, was to rematch Anatoly Malykhin at the event, after taking the Russian’s heavyweight title late last year. The Senegalese wrestler, however, has been forced out of the event after being involved in a serious car crash.
The Bangkok Times was among those reporting the news. Malykhin has been removed from the event and will not face a replacement. A new date is expected to be scheduled once Kane becomes available.
No details on the heavyweight champ’s condition have been provided by his team.
“Reug Reug” earned a split decision win to capture the third of Malykhin’s three ONE Championship titles at ONE 169 last November. He has not fought since. The hulking 33-year old is 7-1 since transitioning to MMA and holds a win over current UFC heavyweight Marcus Almeida, better known as “Buchecha.”
Malylhin still holds ONE’s middleweight and light heavyweight titles, having defeated current UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder to win both. He holds victories over former UFC heavyweight Arjan Bhullar, and RIZIN alum Amir Aliakbari among others.
ONE 173 takes place in Tokyo, Japan on November 16, 2025 and is headlined by a featherweight kickboxing title fight featuring current champ Superbon and interim champ Masaaki Noiri. A full five title fights split between MMA, Muay Thai, and Kickboxing remain on the card.
