Kane began mbapatte, a traditional wrestling style of the Serer people, at the age of sixteen and went on to become one of the biggest names in Senegalese lutte avec frappe, or wrestling with strikes. He later moved to France, where he obtained French citizenship, before turning his attention to MMA. In mbapatte, he built a perfect record of 16 wins and no losses.
His ONE Championship debut on January 22, 2021, immediately attracted international attention: he defeated four-time Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion Alain Ngalani in the first round. Kane further strengthened his reputation with victories over the likes of Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida and Jasur Mirzamukhamedov, and was named Breakout Star of the Year by ONE in 2024.
On November 9, 2024, his career reached a high point: he defeated defending champion Anatoly Malykhin by split decision, becoming Senegal’s first-ever MMA world champion. His return to Dakar was accompanied by a spontaneous public celebration attended by more than 20,000 people, congratulations from the Senegalese president, and the inclusion of his story in the Senegalese school curriculum as an inspiring example.
However, in the rematch on May 15, 2026, at ONE Friday Fights 154 in Bangkok, he had to surrender his title. Malykhin knocked him out in the fourth round, after which a brief altercation broke out between the coaching teams. Kane has since been regarded as a former champion and remains an elite contender for the heavyweight title.
Senegal
