New ONE heavyweight champion Reug Reug wants to take PFL champ Francis Ngannou on in a match-up perfect for African expansion.
Francis Ngannou is being challenged to an Africa vs. Africa showdown for his next potential MMA fight.
Ngannou recently returned to mixed martial arts in October, knocking out Renan Ferreira in under five minutes to become the PFL heavyweight champion. And while the big fight everyone may want to see is “The Predator” vs. Jon Jones, it’s looking like that’ll be impossible so long as Dana White is at the helm of the UFC.
Would you care for a little Francis Ngannou vs. “Reug Reug” instead?
“Reug Reug” (real name Oumar Kane) is a Senegalese wrestler turned MMA fighter who just took the ONE heavyweight MMA championship off Anatoly Malykhin in a split decision this past weekend (Sat. Nov. 9th, 2024). Now he’s pushing ONE head honcho Chatri Sityodtong to set up a co-promotion between two of the biggest non-UFC fight promotions out there.
“The Boss, you were happy to make Francis Ngannou vs Anatoly happen,” Kane wrote on Instagram. “I beat the guy, so let’s make the biggest fight in African history: Ngannou vs Reug Rueg / PFL vs ONE.”
“Everyone has told me I can’t beat who’s in front of me every fight, so let’s test it against the greatest African MMA star in history,” he added. “Let’s show the world what we can do!!! #AfricanLegacy #MMAHistory.”
Ngannou is in a bit of a tough spot when it comes to MMA because there’s few legitimate heavyweight options for him to fight. There’s been talk of him fighting Glory kickboxing champ Rico Verhoeven under special rules, and there’s still the option of another eight figure boxing fight. But if the PFL wants to put Franny back in the cage soon, “Reug Reug” could be just what they need to keep their top star busy.
PFL has also been putting a lot of work into an eventual Africa debut and presence. What better way to do that than with Ngannou vs. Kane leading the way? “Reug Reug” hasn’t gained major international traction in ONE, but his Senegalese wrestling roots make him a star in Africa. Even if it’s not exactly the most competitive match-up on paper, a bout with Ngannou in their home continent could be a watershed moment for African MMA.
What do you think, Maniacs? Any interest in seeing Ngannou test “Reug Reug,” or would we rather he continue to compete under different rulesets until a better name comes along in MMA? Let us know in the comments below!