Senegalese powerhouse ‘Reug Reug’ brings the muscles to Brussels for ARES FC 2

Senegalese heavyweight Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane is back, and he’s looking to hand an undefeated Russian prospect the first loss of his career at ARES FC 2.

Senegalese heavyweight wrecker [autotag]Oumar Kane[/autotag] – better known by his fighting nickname, “Reug Reug” – is back, and he has his sights set on an undefeated Russian.

Kane (1-0) kicked off his professional MMA career in spectacular fashion at ARES 1 as he threw his opponent Sofiane Boukichou around the cage before finishing his man via TKO early in the second round.

Now “Reug Reug” is ready to return, and the 27-year-old powerhouse will take on undefeated opposition in the form of Russian heavyweight [autotag]Ivan Romanov[/autotag] at ARES 2 at the Forest National-Vorst Nationaal arena in Brussels, Belgium on April 3.

Romanov (5-0) picked up a hat-trick of victories in 2019, but his fight with Kane represents his first against an opponent with a winning record. There’s a fair chance it’ll be the first time he’s faced a man with the sort of wrestling power “Reug Reug” possesses, too.

The two heavyweights will go toe-to-toe in Brussels on a card that features a clutch of familiar names to hardcore MMA fans.

Belgian middleweight favorite [autotag]Maaren Wouters[/autotag] (11-7) will take on French UFC veteran [autotag]Nordine Taleb[/autotag] (15-7), while former UFC flyweight title challenger [autotag]John Moraga[/autotag] (19-7) takes on another former UFC athlete, [autotag]Hector Sandoval[/autotag] (15-4).

Also added to the card is another former UFC athlete, heavyweight [autotag]Luis Henrique[/autotag] (12-6), who will look to bounce back into the win column after his split-decision loss to KSW heavyweight champion Phil De Fries in September 2019. The Brazilian will take on Lithuanian [autotag]Teodoras Aukstuolis[/autotag] (11-5).

But, despite the pedigree of the fighters being added to the card, there’s a fair chance the fight that will garner the most interest is the one featuring the hulking 1-0 man-mountain from Dakar.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Ex-UFC fighter Nordine Taleb to headline ARES FC 2 vs. Maarten Wouters

UFC veteran Nordine Taleb will headline ARES FC 2 vs. Maarten Wouters in Brussels, Belgium.

UFC veteran [autotag]Nordine Taleb[/autotag] has found a new home.

Taleb (15-7) has signed with new Afro-French MMA organization ARES FC and will be headlining April’s ARES FC 2 in Brussels, Belgium, when he takes on [autotag]Maarten Wouters[/autotag] (11-7) in a middleweight bout.

Frenchman Taleb compiled a 7-5 record with the UFC, scoring wins over the likes of Li Jingliang, Erick Silva and Danny Roberts. In his first post-UFC contest, abd what could be final fight of his career, Taleb heads into enemy territory to take on Brussels native Wouters,

Wouters has lost three of his last four but boasts a 90 percent finish rate. He takes on his most notable name yet in Taleb in what represents a massive opportunity for the Belgian on home soil.

In the co-main event, a pair of ex-UFC flyweights will throw down, when former UFC 125-pound title challenger [autotag]John Moraga[/autotag] (19-7), takes on Team Alpha Male’s [autotag]Hector Sandoval[/autotag] (15-4).

ARES FC 2 takes place on April 3 at Forest National Arena in Brussels. The event is expected to stream on UFC Fight Pass.

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Nordine Taleb says next UFC bout will be retirement fight

Nordine Taleb apparently has decided when his MMA career will come to an end.

It appears [autotag]Nordine Taleb[/autotag] will soon hang up his gloves.

The 38-year-old UFC welterweight announced Tuesday on Twitter that he is retiring after his next fight. Taleb (15-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) is not currently booked, but he recently competed in September where he suffered a first-round knockout to Muslim Salikhov.

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Taleb has been fighting professionally since 2007. The Frenchman holds notable wins over Pete Sell, Li Jingliang, Erick Silva, and Danny Roberts. Taleb, who also competed under the Bellator banner, has been in the UFC since 2014.

Below is Taleb’s announcement:

Hi everyone, after thinking for a while about it, I took the decision that my next UFC fight will be my retirement fight. It was a hell of a ride and I’m very grateful for it! See you soon for the last ride.

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