“I built myself up” - Akbar Abdullaev reflects on his hard journey from poverty to the precipice of ONE Championship history

Fifth-ranked ONE Championship featherweight MMA contender 'Bakal' Akbar Abdullaev of Kyrgyzstan considers himself the king without a crown.

The 27-year-old Tiger Muay Thai product is coming off the biggest win of his career last weekend. He stopped previously unbeaten Chinese star Tang Kai in their main event clash at ONE Fight Night 27: Tang vs. Abdullaev on Prime Video.

Abdullaev put on a masterful performance, outclassing Tang both on the feet and on the mat en route to the finish. However, he was ineligible to win the featherweight MMA gold after having failed to pass weight and hydration the day prior.

Still, Abdullaev is proud of his victory and the long journey he has taken to get to this point in his life.

'Bakal' told ONE Championship in a post-fight interview:

"I didn't come from a wealthy background. I didn't come with sponsors or big brothers that would support me, or any kind of support. You can say that I built myself up."

ONE Fight Night 27: Tang vs. Abdullaev on Prime Video was broadcast live from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand last Saturday, Jan. 11. Fans in the United States and Canada can catch a replay of all the action on-demand via Amazon Prime Video.

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Akbar Abdullaev moving on from weight and hydration debacle that cost him gold

Undefeated Akbar Abdullaev can't undo the past, although he probably wishes he could.

The 27-year-old failed to pass weight and hydration for his main event clash against Tang Kai at ONE Fight Night 27 last Saturday in Bangkok, which made him ineligible to win the ONE featherweight MMA world title and a $50,000 performance bonus.

Here's what Abdullaev told ONE Championship about the debacle:

"Yeah, I didn't get my bonus. I didn't get my belt. So I can't really say much more about that."

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding Akbar Abdullaev's next fight.