Chinese superstar Tang Kai targeting multiple featherweight MMA world title defenses in 2025

Tang Kai plans on defending his ONE featherweight MMA world championship two or three times in 2025 — but first, the Chinese superstar is focused on bagging his first successful defense this Friday night.

Emanating from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Tang will put his 26 pounds of ONE Championship gold on the line in the ONE Fight Night 27 headliner on Amazon Prime Video. Hoping to bring Tang's title reign to a crashing halt is undefeated Kyrgyzstani sensation Akbar Abdullaev.

Though he is by no means looking past the 11-0 Abdullaev, Tang Kai recently opened up about his plans to stay active and notch multiple defenses in the new year. Speaking to the promotion, he said:

"For now, I just want to win my first title defense in 2025, and I hope to compete more in this year, hoping for two to three fights".

Tang's return to action at ONE Fight Night 27 will be his first fight since scoring a brutal third-round knockout against ex-champion Thanh Le at ONE 166 in Qatar.

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Tang Kai vs. Akbar Abdullaev: Who's 'O' will go?

Tang Kai goes into his second ONE featherweight MMA world title defense boasting an unbeaten record inside the Circle.

Similarly, Akbar Abdullaev goes into his first ONE world title opportunity with a trio of highlight-reel knockouts against Oh Ho Taek, Aaron Canarte, and Halil Amir.

Those victories were enough to move him into the featherweight MMA top five, setting the stage for his clash against the 28-year-old Chinese superstar.

Will Tang Kai add another impressive title defense to his resume and move to 9-0 in ONE Championship, or will Akbar Abdullaev shock the world and score the biggest win of his mixed martial arts career thus far?

Fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 27 live on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, Jan. 10 in U.S. primetime.