ONE 169: Oumar Kane Opens up on Man Who Shaped His Martial Arts Career & Gave Him His Famous Nickname “Reug Reug”

There's an African proverb that says, "It takes a village to raise a child." But for "Reug Reug" Oumar Kane, one man changed the course of his entire life as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.

On Saturday, 9 November, the Senegalese behemoth will challenge Russian powerhouse Anatoly "Sladkiy" Malykhin for his ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title in the main event of ONE 169 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

When Kane was young, tragedy struck his family when his father passed away, leaving behind his mother and two siblings. So, his uncle took care of them. In fact, he was the one who inspired the youngster to pursue a career in wrestling, and "Reug Reug" is grateful for that.

"He stepped up to look after us, as he felt it was now his responsibility, as my dad looked after him and funded him to travel to Europe to work and study. I admire his selflessness in taking on the responsibility of providing for us," Kane said.

"He was a legend in the sport. I was always amazed by the training and competitions I witnessed. He taught me everything. Before, when I had nothing, he would give me money, and take care of me, my mom, my brother, and my little sister. He's a good uncle."

"Reug Reug" soon became a superstar of Senegalese wrestling in his home country. Later, he transitioned to MMA and made a name for himself, establishing a solid record of 6-1.

His name alone is enough to send chills down his opponents' spines. And unbeknownst to many, the 36-year-old, 6-foot-tall superstar received his nickname from his uncle, who was inspired by a TV character.

"He always thought I had warrior spirit and attitude. My name is Oumar Kane. After I was given my name, my uncle came back maybe two or three days later and said he saw something on TV, and I should be named 'Reug Reug,'" Kane said.

"There was a show on TV before with a scary and dangerous character, and when the name on the credits came up, he saw that the name was 'Reug Reug.'"