“Doesn’t really matter to me” - Kyrgyz monster Akbar Abdullaev ready to fight anyone after dismantling Tang Kai

Akbar Abdullaev has declared himself ready to face all comers following the most significant victory of his professional career yet in the main event of ONE Fight Night 27 last Friday, Jan. 10.

The Kyrgyz bruiser delivered a masterful performance in a 156.75-pound catchweight bout, becoming the first man to defeat ONE featherweight MMA world champion Tang Kai under the promotion’s banner.

Abdullaev showcased his full arsenal, dismantling Tang over the course of the contest. His explosive striking was on display from the opening bell, and he achieved a milestone by taking the Chinese sensation down.

As the matchup progressed, Abdullaev’s dominance only grew. With Tang visibly fading, ‘Bakal’ executed takedowns at will, culminating in a relentless ground-and-pound assault in the final round to claim a technical knockout victory.

However, despite his stellar showing, Abdullaev did not claim the ONE featherweight MMA world title after failing to make weight for the encounter.

An immediate rematch with Tang seems like a logical next step for Abdullaev, though the reigning champion may need time to recover from the lopsided loss.

Should another ranked contender stand in his way, Abdullaev is prepared to defend his pole position in the title race.

He said this in the post-event interview:

“It doesn't really matter to me. In our weight division, everyone's such a great fighter. So it's what the boss would decide, what the organization would decide, I'm able to go against whoever.”

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Akbar Abdullaev wishes to run it back with Tang Kai soon

But what Akbar Abdullaev truly desires is a second showdown with Tang — this time with the 26-pound belt on the line — and he hopes that opportunity comes sooner rather than later.

He stated:

“I can do it in Qatar (ONE 172 on February 20). It's just a matter of when he's ready. I can do it next week. I can even do it tomorrow. Really, I'm ready.”