Tang Kai believes world title defense against Akbar Abdullaev will come down to one decisive strike: "We each have knockout power"

Current undisputed ONE featherweight MMA world champion Tang Kai has recognized the tough challenge that number five-ranked divisional contender Akbar Abdullaev will bring in their upcoming world title showdown on Jan. 10 at ONE Fight Night 27.

Tang will put his 26-pound golden belt on the line for the second time during his current reign inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Before he faces the undefeated challenger, the Chinese MMA star had a recent talk with ONE Championship.

According to the featherweight MMA king, they both possess unquestionable power on their strikes, but he pointed out that the key for this championship bout is who would land a cleaner shot during the match, as he explained during a recent interview with ONE Championship:

"I think we both are good strikers and we each have knockout power, but the key is who can find their timing first."

Tang holds a perfect promotional record of eight wins with an impressive 63% finish rate. His latest victim was former ONE featherweight world champion Thanh Le, whom he TKO'ed in their rematch at ONE 166: Qatar in March 2024.

Tang Kai acknowledges his duty to improve his skills to maintain his status as the division's undisputed champion

As the golden standard of the weight class, the Sunkin International Fight Club representative acknowledges that he has a massive target on his back, so he's keen on sharpening his wares against the threats of contenders who want to dethrone him.

In the same interview with the world's largest martial arts organization, the 28-year-old knockout machine stated that it is his responsibility to improve his skills by saying:

"I have known my opponents will be stronger and stronger since the day I got the belt, and I am improving myself every day, too. It is what a champion should do."

North American viewers with an active Prime Video subscription can watch all the action at ONE Fight Night 27 on Jan. 10, which will take place inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.