Oumar Kane Vs Anatoly Malykhin 2: Date, Time, Live Streaming, Fight Card and Rivalry Explained

When "Reug Reug" Oumar Kane walked out of the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok in November 2024, he had done what many thought impossible. He had beaten Anatoly Malykhin.

Not just beaten him, but dominated him across five rounds and 25 minutes of MMA, outworking and outmanoeuvring a man who had never lost a professional fight. The result was a split decision, but the performance told a clearer story: Kane, the Senegalese wrestling phenomenon, was the real deal.

Now, after a cancelled rematch due to Kane suffering a car accident, months of word wars, and building anticipation, the two men finally meet again. On Friday, May 15, Kane puts his ONE Heavyweight MMA World Championship on the line against the man who wants it back at The Inner Circle.

When and Where to Watch Oumar Kane vs. Anatoly Malykhin 2?

The Inner Circle broadcasts live on Friday, May 15, via pay-per-view on live.onefc.com.

Indian fans can tune in from 5:00 p.m. IST, with three bouts scheduled before the main event. Given the card structure, the Kane vs. Malykhin rematch is expected to get underway around 6:00 p.m. IST or later.

• Event: The Inner Circle
• Date: Friday, May 15
• Main Event Start (IST): Expected ~6:00 p.m. IST (card begins 5:00 p.m. IST)
• Where to Watch: live.onefc.com (pay-per-view)

What Did Oumar Kane Say Before the Fight?

Kane has not been short of confidence heading into the rematch. Respectful of his opponent's credentials, but utterly certain of the result, the heavyweight champion stated his mission in a few precise words:

"I give him the respect he deserves. No doubt, he's a good fighter. But he still can't beat me. He will never beat me," he said.

What Did Anatoly Malykhin Say Before the Fight?

Malykhin, never one to hold his tongue, was sharp and direct in his assessment of Kane, dismissing the champion's striking credentials and suggesting the first fight was not as one-sided as it appeared:

"He should relax a little. He hasn't even knocked out his opponents, so talking about finishing me sounds strange. He's not a powerful striker. He spends most of the fight backing up and hiding. I didn't finish him in the first fight, but I will finish him in this one," the two-division MMA World Champion said.

What to Expect on May 15?

The central question of the rematch is simple: can Malykhin stop Kane's wrestling, and can he land the fight-ending shot before Kane smothers him against the ropes?

In their previous encounter, Kane neutralised Malykhin's biggest weapon, his one-punch knockout power, by constantly closing the distance and engaging in the clinch. Malykhin, to his credit, survived all five rounds and landed his share of shots, but he never found the clean, fight-ending moment he needed.

For the rematch, expect Malykhin to come in with more urgency and less patience. He is likely to be more aggressive early, looking for the finish before Kane can settle into his controlling rhythm. If the Russian can land a clean shot in the first two rounds, the finish he is promising becomes a real possibility.

Kane, meanwhile, will look to replicate his game plan: pressure, clinch, wrestling, ground control, and accumulated damage over the course of five rounds. He has already beaten this version of Malykhin once. Doing it twice, however, especially with the added motivation a first professional loss provides, is a very different proposition.