Tang Kai defends title in Bangkok bout

History-making Chinese mixed martial artist Tang Kai silenced doubters by successfully defending his ONE Championship featherweight world title with a TKO win over challenger Shamil Gasanov in Bangkok on Friday.

Tang, a 30-year-old kickboxer from Hunan province, proved he had come back stronger from a TKO defeat to Kyrgyzstan's Akbar Abdullaev as he dictated the bout against Gasanov from the get-go with patience and finesse in the main event of ONE Fight Night 43 at the Lumpinee Stadium.

Gasanov, a Russian wrestling specialist known as "The Cobra", entered the bout as perhaps the most complete challenger Tang had faced on the back a five-bout winning streak.

Having learned his lesson in dealing with a dangerous grappler in his loss to Abdullaev, Tang countered with composure and precision.

Tang spent the first round turning away Gasanov's takedown attempts, sprawling with authority each time the Russian approached and adding sharp punches to keep him at bay.

Gasanov adjusted in the second, abandoning his wrestling and opting to trade strikes instead. That suited Tang's striking style perfectly as the Chinese champion popped jabs into his challenger's face throughout the round, getting the better of every exchange as the Dagestani contender grew frustrated.

The Russian returned to his takedown-heavy strategy in the third, but Tang continued to stuff his shots with ease. He then started targeting Gasanov's lead leg with low kicks, whipping kicks in until a heavy one crippled the Russian midway through the fourth stanza.

Tang followed with a barrage of hammer fists until the referee stepped in to call it a TKO win for Tang, who has now improved his win-loss record to 20-3 and cemented his status as one of the most complete fighters in the featherweight division.

Tang, who became the first Chinese man to win a world title under a major MMA promotion by dethroning US veteran Thanh Le to capture the featherweight crown in August 2022, has now defended his strap twice after defeating Le in a rematch in March 2024.

Tang's loss to Abdullaev last year did not cost his featherweight belt due to the opponent's weight miss, which had forced what was supposed to be a title fight to be agreed as a catchweight bout.

"To defend my crown, and representing China, on foreign soil is a huge honor for me," Tang said in his post-fight interview from the ring.

"I've prepared hard for this fight and I've learned my lessons from the last fight. I know where my weaknesses are and I've trained hard to improve them.

"I am really glad to prove myself again and keep the title in China."