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Francis Ngannou called out for ‘biggest fight in African history’ by terrifying newly-crowned champion

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Francis Ngannou has been called out by a newly-crowned Senegalese heavyweight champion.

Oumar Kane wants to challenge Ngannou in the ‘biggest fight in African history’ for his next MMA bout.

@SportsonPrime via X

The heavyweight sensation shocked the world at ONE 169 in Bangkok last Friday by overcoming historic three-division champion Anatoly Malykhin.

In doing so, Kane claimed the ONE heavyweight title in what was just his eighth professional MMA bout.

‘Reug Reug’ became the first fighter to takedown Malykhin in a dominant opening spell, before the latter took control of the later rounds.

Russia’s Malykhin then started to catch 32-year-old Kane with big blows as many MMA fans believed his aggression and control time would win him the fight.

The 36-year-old went the distance for the first time in his career, but the judges ultimately crowned Kane as the new ONE heavyweight champ in what many deemed a controversial split decision.

“Chatri Sityodtong [Founder of the Singapore-based combat sports promotion] the boss, you were happy to make Francis Ngannou vs Anatoly happen,” Kane said in the aftermath of the bout on social media.

“I beat the guy, so let’s make the biggest fight in African history. Francis Ngannou vs Reug Reug. PFL MMA vs ONE Championship.

“It [would be] the greatest honour of my fight career.

“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. Let’s show the world what we can do!”

Ngannou dispatched Renan Ferreira in the opening round of his MMA return and PFL debut in October.

Ngannou returned to winning ways in October after two years away from MMA
Getty

‘The Predator’ was crowned the inaugural PFL Super Fight heavyweight champion and remains the lineal king of the glamour division.

He hadn’t stepped foot inside the octagon since defeating Ciryl Gane in January 2022—defending his UFC heavyweight strap in the process—before leaving Dana White’s promotion after contract disputes.

As for Kane, he is now ONE Championship’s first African-born champion, as his opponent suffered the first loss of his career.

The Russian had stepped up to heavyweight after winning both the ONE light heavyweight and middleweight world titles.

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