“The pressure is also my motivation” - Featherweight MMA champ Tang Kai doesn’t mind having a big target on his back 

Reigning ONE featherweight MMA world champion Tang Kai doesn't mind the pressure that comes with carrying 26 pounds of gold.

On Friday, January 10, ONE Championship will kick off 2025 with a bang as the promotion returns to the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand for a loaded ONE Fight Night 27 card on Amazon Prime Video.

In the main event of the evening, Tang will put his featherweight MMA strap on the line against undefeated contender Akbar Abdullaev.

It will be Tang Kai's first time defending the belt since scoring a vicious third-round knockout against former titleholder Thanh Le at ONE 166 in Qatar.

Speaking with ONE ahead of his highly anticipated return to the ring, Tang spoke about the pressure that comes with sitting atop the featherweight throne and the choice to embrace the target on his back.

“Of course, I have pressure in each fight, but the pressure is also my motivation," Tang said.

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Tang Kai looks to hand Akbar Abdullaev his first career loss

Thus far, Tang Kai is undefeated under the ONE Championship banner, winning eight straight and scoring noteworthy knockouts against Sung Jon Lee, Ryogo Takahashi, Yoon Chang Min, Kim Jae Woong, and the aforementioned Thanh Le.

However, the Chinese superstar will face one of the toughest tests of his mixed martial arts career when he meets a man who has never known defeat.

Akbar Abdullaev is a perfectly 11-0 in MMA with his last three wins coming via a trio of knockouts against Oh Ho Take, Aaron Canarte, and Halil Amir.

With a 100% finish rate and an average fight duration of just over three minutes, it's safe to say that the fireworks are sure to fly when ONE Championship heads back to the Mecca of Muay Thai this Friday night.

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