New MMA ONE heavyweight champion Oumar Kane said he is "ready for everyone" including Francis Ngannou after making good on his promise to bring the championship belt back to Dubai.
Better known as "Reug Reug", the Senegalese beat the previously unbeaten Russian Anatoly Malykhin at ONE 169 in Bangkok earlier this month, taking a split decision after five grueling rounds.
Reug Reug, 32, resides in Dubai and trains at the TRIPL3 MMA gym in Jumeirah Lake Towers.
He said in an interview with The National before the Malykhin bout he felt "confident" of beating the Russian and "bringing the belt to Senegal and Dubai."
Thousands of fans greeted his arrival in Senegal to parade his belt, setting off flares and fireworks and blocking off roads to celebrate.
Speaking to The National in Dubai, he said: "I have worked hard for this moment and visualised it to happen. It was a proud moment for myself, the team, Dubai, and Senegal." When asked about his future and a potential match-up with PFL heavyweight Ngannou, Reug Reug said: "Anything is possible, as long as we have the same will.
"I’m ready to fight anyone. It also depends on the contenders in the division and who ONE offers me. But I’m ready for everyone and the belt stays with me."
Ngannou made a successful return to mixed martial arts when he downed the giant Renan Ferreira in a heavyweight clash dubbed ‘The Battle of the Giants’ in Riyadh in October.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company profile
Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018
Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: Health-tech
Size: 22 employees
Funding: Seed funding
Investors: Flat6labs, 500 Falcons, three angel investors
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
BLACK%20ADAM
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MEFCC information
Tickets range from Dh110 for an advance single-day pass to Dh300 for a weekend pass at the door. VIP tickets have sold out. Visit www.mefcc.com to purchase tickets in advance.
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Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.