"Judges are not necessary in my fights" - Akbar Abdullaev aims for another spectacular finish to dethrone Tang Kai

ONE featherweight MMA star Akbar Abdullaev cemented his spot in the division thanks to his incredible knockout power, which he believes will come into play when he challenges the reigning Tang Kai for the 155-pound MMA crown at ONE Fight Night 27 on Friday, Jan. 10.

Only a few days away from his first opportunity at 26 pounds of ONE Championship gold, Abdullaev boldly declared his intent to end Tang's night early in an interview with the promotion, saying:

"This time I will again try to avoid the judges' decision and win early. I think judges are not necessary in my fights, and I will try to finish sooner than expected."

The 27-year-old is peaking at just the right time in his career, as he has given fans of the world's largest martial arts promotion three knockout finishes in as many outings since his March 2023 debut against Oh Ho Taek.

While Abdullaev's confidence in his skills is commendable, he cannot afford to let it override his game plan when he gets into the circle with Tang due to the Chinese star's vaunted knockout power.

ONE Fight Night 27 will emanate from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The event will air live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

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Tang Kai throws shade on Akbar Abdullaev's pro record

Tang Kai knows all too well about Akbar Abdullaev's undefeated pro record through 11 fights, but the ONE featherweight MMA king does not see anything impressive about it.

Speaking exclusively with ONE, the Sunkin International Fight Club product dismissed the quality of opponents that his first challenger for the crown has faced, saying:

"It is a good record, but just look at all his opponents - none of them impressed me."