WATCH: Akbar Abdullaev showcases utmost dominance in brutal finish of Chinese superstar Tang Kai

Akbar Abdullaev left no doubt about his standing as the premier contender in ONE Championship’s featherweight MMA division with a dominant performance at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

'Bakal; unleashed his full arsenal to hand ONE featherweight MMA world champion Tang Kai his first loss under the promotion’s banner in the main event of ONE Fight Night 27 last Friday, Jan. 10.

Watch the highlights of the matchup below:

The Kyrgyz sensation was in control from start to finish, delivering a fifth-round TKO victory in their 156.75-pound catchweight bout.

The 27-year-old executed a winning strategy, blending crisp striking with seamless grappling transitions. He consistently set up his takedowns with well-timed punching combinations before dominating Tang on the mat with punishing ground-and-pound.

Abdullaev’s relentless aggression disrupted Tang’s rhythm, allowing him to dictate the pace and excel in grappling exchanges with powerful punches and elbows.

His persistence paid dividends in the final round. With Abdullaev raining down a series of strikes from the guard, referee Herb Dean stepped in to halt the contest at the 1:21 mark, awarding him a well-deserved TKO win.

---

Akbar Abduallev aims to vie for gold soon

Despite his stellar performance, Akbar Abdullaev fell short of claiming the ONE featherweight MMA world championship after missing weight for the bout.

However, he extended his flawless professional record to 12-0, with all wins coming by way of finishes, cementing his reputation as bracket’s most dangerous contender.

In the post-event interview, Abdullaev expressed his desire for redemption, stating his eagerness to compete for the divisional gold as soon as possible:

“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.”