The long awaited fight between Marcus Almeida and Oumar Kane will finally take place on August 4th. The two heavyweights are booked to face off for the third time at an event which doesn’t currently have an official venue confirmed.
The fight could well turn out to be a title eliminator. Interim champion Anatoly Malykhin and regular champion Arjan Bhullar are set to face off in a unification bout at ONE Friday Fights 22 next month.
The winner of the fight between Almeida and Kane will be in pole position for a shot at the winner. Both are on winning streaks but it is the Brazilian who has really taken the heavyweight division by storm.
BJJ legend Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida 🇧🇷 submits Kirill Grishenko with a BEAUTIFUL heel hook! @MarcusBuchecha#ONEonPrimeVideo1 | #ONEChampionship
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch live on @PrimeVideo 👉 https://t.co/CgbPo9u9AC
🌍 Watch live on PPV 👉 https://t.co/8MeKhRMtjy pic.twitter.com/MFt8FFpUtX— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) August 27, 2022
Back to back
Almeida (4-0) has finished every single opponent he has ever faced, either by ground or pound or submission. The Brazilian only made his debut in 2021 but has seen five different matches fall through, including two with Kane.
Kane is better known as ‘Reug Reug’. Whereas his opponent is a BJJ specialist he has a background in Senegalese wrestling and became a viral breakout star after winning on a regional show in France.
Kane (5-1) is coming off back to back wins over opponents who were previously undefeated. He has won four out of his five ONE Championship fights.
SWARMED 😱 Reug Reug returns to action on December 3 as he takes on Jasur Mirzamukhamedov at ONE 164! 😤#ONE164 | Dec 3 at 6:30PM PHT
🌍 👉 https://t.co/eBUfsOlZOd pic.twitter.com/ABkgGRK4dn— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) November 30, 2022
Same opponent
Interestingly both men have an opponent in common. Kane was matched with Kirill Grishenko at ONE on TNT 4 and quit on his stool at the end of the second round, complaining about an illegal blow.
Almeida faced the same opponent at ONE Fight Night 1. He needed just over a minute to submit Grishenko with a heel hook and has not fought since, the Brazilian has been out of action since last August.
Although no location has been confirmed for this event it will most likely be held at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. The venue has emerged as ONE Championship’s base and the majority of shows take place there.
There are exceptions. Last month ONE Fight Night 10 was held in Broomfield, with the promotion making its US debut and Chatri Sityodtong has made it clear he plans to return.
ONE Fight Night 13, TBA, August 4th
Oumar Kane vs. Marcus Almeida (Heavyweight)
