If you love knockouts, the ONE 160 main event is for you. In a virtual media call on Friday, ONE Championship announced ONE Featherweight World Champion Thanh Le will defend his title against Tang Kai on Friday, August 26.
The two athletes have a combined 24 KO/TKO finishes and are on a combined eight-KO/TKO finish streak, putting them on a collision course for this explosive title match.
Thanh Le to Defend Title Against Tang Kai at ONE 160’s Main Event
Le was last inside the Circle at ONE: Lights Out in March. The MidCity MMA representative shut out the lights of Garry Tonon in under one minute with a blistering ground and pound shot while defending a leg lock.
The finish was his fifth straight KO/TKO in ONE, with each being a highlight-reel finish.
As he attempts to become China’s first men’s mixed martial arts World Champion, #1-ranked featherweight contender Tang has been putting away opponents just as easily as Le.
Since arriving in ONE, the Chinese athlete has won all six of his matches and ended four by KO/TKO, including his last four appearances on the global stage. The victories have pushed his overall win streak to nine.
To secure his title shot, the Chinese athlete ousted Kim Jae Woong with a first-round knockout at ONE X.
With so much firepower in the Circle, the defending champion does not expect the judges to get involved.
“I don’t think we are going to a decision. He’s been to a couple of decisions before that he’s lost, been to one or two he’s won. I don’t know what that looks like. We’re not going to go the full five rounds, but we’ll take it into deep waters, late into the fourth or fifth round,” Le said on the call.
Meanwhile, Tang responded by saying he would make Le consider retirement.
“I’ve got 100 percent confidence for this upcoming fight. I respect him [Le] a lot, but he’s also 36 years old, and I think he should really be considering retirement,” said Tang.
The matchup will instantly become one of the year’s top bouts with fans around the globe. Two aggressive knockout artists are set for a huge main event with gold on the line.
ONE 160 will take place on Friday, August 26. Stay tuned for more announcements as they are made.
