- George Chung
- Jan 3
- 2 min read
The Lumpinee Stadium is set to light up on Friday, January 10, as reigning ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Tang Kai prepares to defend his title against the undefeated rising star Akbar Abdullaev at ONE Fight Night 27. With Abdullaev’s perfect 11-0 record and three back-to-back finishes in ONE Championship, this showdown promises fireworks from start to finish.
But while fans are buzzing about Abdullaev’s meteoric rise, Tang Kai remains unfazed. The confident Chinese champ isn’t impressed by the hype surrounding his challenger."It’s a good record, but just look at all his opponents – none of them impressed me. I think his perfect record is only because he’s very brave and always push es forward," Tang commented with bold conviction.
Abdullaev’s Knockout Surge
Abdullaev burst onto the scene in 2023 with a thunderous 44-second TKO victory over Oh Ho Taek. Four months later, he dispatched Aaron Canarte in just 41 seconds. He capped off his year with a spectacular knockout over the previously unbeaten Halil Amir at ONE Fight Night 22, earning his shot at gold.
Despite acknowledging Abdullaev’s undeniable power, Tang Kai believes his own skill set gives him the edge."His strength is the way he pushes forward. Compared with me, my strength lies in my precision and movement. We both have knockout power, but the key will be who finds their timing first," Tang said, revealing his strategy for fight night.
Ready for a Slugfest or a Marathon
Tang is ready for anything – whether it’s an early knockout or a grueling five-round war."I want to finish this fight by KO, but I’m also prepared for a five-round contest," he declared, emphasizing his readiness to go the distance if needed.
The Champion’s Mentality
Carrying the championship belt comes with immense pressure, but Tang embraces it. For him, pressure is fuel for greatness."Of course, I have pressure in every fight, but that pressure is also my motivation. Since the day I won the belt, I’ve known my opponents would get tougher, so I push myself to improve every day. That’s what being a champion is all about," Tang stated.
The Pressure Is On – But Who Feels It More?
Tang believes the pressure is heavier on Abdullaev, who enters the main event with an unblemished record and the weight of expectations."I think he has more pressure because he’s on an 11-fight winning streak and hasn’t experienced a loss yet. As the challenger, he will feel the moment more," Tang predicted.
Will Abdullaev’s fearless forward style overwhelm the reigning king? Or will Tang Kai’s experience and precision keep the belt firmly around his waist?Tune in to ONE Fight Night 27, streaming live on Prime Video in U.S. primetime at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST on Friday, January 10, to witness this electrifying clash!
