Every student in Senegal now knows the story by heart. A boy from the small fishing town of Thiaroye sur Mer, one of six children in a family that struggled to make ends meet, who rose to become his nation’s first world champion in mixed martial arts. But for Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane, seeing his journey become part of his homeland’s secondary school curriculum represents something far greater than athletic achievement.
“It’s incredible. What an honor it is for a sportsman to achieve in life. I strive to be the greatest sportsman I can be, but to be on school papers is something I could never dream of,” Kane said.
The ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion prepares to defend his title against Anatoly Malykhin at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri in Tokyo on November 16, but his thoughts keep returning to the classrooms back home where students study his remarkable rise.
Senegal has produced legendary athletes before. The national football team that reached the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals gave the country heroes like Aliou Cisse, Henri Camara, and El Hadji Diouf. Kane grew up idolizing these people, never imagining he’d one day join their ranks in the nation’s educational materials.
“Yes, all of our footballing heroes we have learned about [are part of the educational curriculum]. We have had so many,” Kane acknowledges. “In combat sports, Senegalese wrestling is such a huge part of our culture, and this was my education. I ate, drank, and slept learning about these stars and dreaming of becoming one. Now I’m not ashamed to say I’m the greatest of them all.”
But Kane’s inclusion in the curriculum represents more than sporting excellence. His story serves as a powerful counter-narrative to the migration patterns that have seen many young Senegalese leave for Europe in search of opportunity. By staying home and achieving global success, he’s proven that greatness can be cultivated anywhere.
“Anything is possible. We had nothing growing up and now we are able to provide for not just our family, but also our friends and business partners. It’s a dream that is achievable for everyone who just wants to work hard and dream of being the greatest,” Kane said.
As students across Senegal study his journey, Kane emphasizes that the lessons extend far beyond athletics. Whether they aspire to become doctors, teachers, engineers, or athletes, the principles remain constant.
“It’s not about combat sports, it’s about just applying yourself to whatever you choose to do. Look at our President, he wanted to be a great leader and he’s doing great things within our country. Just aiming to be the greatest at what you do is enough to achieve a successful life,” he said.
