Overview
- ONE Championship said the heavyweight titleholder Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane was injured in a serious car accident in the United Arab Emirates and cannot compete on Nov. 16 in Tokyo.
- The promotion removed Anatoly Malykhin from the card with no replacement opponent, and the title rematch is postponed until Kane is available.
- Officials have not disclosed the extent of Kane’s injuries, and his team has shared no medical details beyond photos indicating he is hospitalized, according to reporting.
- ONE 173 proceeds with a packed lineup featuring multiple title bouts, including Superbon vs. Masaaki Noiri, Rodtang Jitmuangnon vs. Nong-O Hama, Nadaka Yoshinari vs. Numsurin, Christian Lee vs. Alibeg Rasulov, and Joshua Pacio vs. Yuya Wakamatsu.
- Kane captured the heavyweight belt by split decision over the previously undefeated Malykhin at ONE 169, setting up the now-postponed rematch.