Anatoly Malykhin Promises to Finish 'Reug Reug' in Round One at The Inner Circle

The Russian powerhouse challenges reigning ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion "Reug Reug" Oumar Kane for the gold in the main event of The Inner Circle on Friday, May 15, boradcasting live on live.onefc.com.

Kane handed Malykhin the first defeat of his career at ONE 169 in November 2024, claiming the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title via split decision after a grueling five-round war.

The rematch was set for ONE 173 in Tokyo before Kane's car accident in Dubai forced the fight off the card. Both men are now fully ready, and Malykhin is arriving with a lesson learned and a specific finish in mind.

"Sladkiy” remains the reigning ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight MMA World Champion, and a victory on May 15 would restore his status as a three-division king.

Malykhin Says His Knockout Power Cannot Be Ignored

Malykhin has pushed back hard on Kane's claim that he easily absorbed the Russian's left hook in their first fight. His response came with photographic evidence and zero patience for what he considers revisionist storytelling.

"You can't ignore my knockout power. I've finished all my opponents, and he's next. If he says he 'ate my left hook' and didn't feel it, there's a photo that says otherwise. His lips were flying about 20 centimeters away from his face. That's the reality," Malykhin said.

Malykhin holds a 14-1 record with six victories coming inside ONE. What’s more, he earned each win via knockout or submission, a testament to the finishing power he is threatening to bring to The Inner Circle on May 15.

Russian Powerhouse Identifies the Biggest Lesson

The split-decision loss at ONE 169 was Malykhin's first career defeat, and the Russian has spent every day since identifying exactly what went wrong. His self-assessment is direct, and the adjustment he has made heading into the rematch is equally straightforward.

"He should relax a little. He hasn't even knocked out his opponents. I didn't finish him in the first fight, but I will finish him in this one. The biggest lesson I learned? Don't leave it to the judges. Finish the fight," Malykhin explained.

Kane's four-fight winning streak includes one victory via finish, and his Senegalese wrestling base gives him the tools to grind out decisions against even the most powerful heavyweights in the division.

Malykhin's decision to pursue a finish at all costs rather than risk another close verdict is the central tactical shift that could change the outcome on Friday.

'Sladkiy' Targets a First-Round Knockout at The Inner Circle

Malykhin has not hedged his prediction for the rematch. The Russian has gone on record with a specific round and a specific outcome, backing himself to deliver the finish his fans expect every time he walks into the ring.

"I'm preparing to knock him out. That's always my goal. The fans know it. That's why they come to watch my fights. In this fight, I'll stay calm, stay sharp, and look for the finish. And I'll get it in the first round, like always," he said.

Kane has publicly stated that Malykhin will never beat him, framing their level difference as something he identified clearly after their five-round war. If the Russian juggernaut can land the finish he is predicting in the first round, then that assessment will be tested in the most definitive way possible.

Watch The Inner Circle live on Friday, May 15, beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT on live.onefc.com.