5 Reasons To Be Excited About Tang Kai Vs. Thanh Le II At ONE Fight Night 12
The ONE Featherweight World Title will be on the line once again when reigning divisional king Tang Kai and former titleholder Thanh Le run it back in a rematch of their unforgettable August 2022 clash.
Slated to go down on Friday, July 14, in U.S. primetime, this highly anticipated showdown will serve as the headline affair of ONE Fight Night 12 on Prime Video.
Undefeated across seven impressive performances in ONE, Tang earned a unanimous decision victory over the Vietnamese-American star at ONE 160 to become China’s first-ever male MMA World Champion.
Le, though, is eyeing revenge as he aims to recapture the 26 pounds of gold he once held. With the stage set for an epic encounter, here are five reasons why Tang vs. Lee II is a can’t-miss fight.
#1 Their First Fight Was An All-Out War
When these two warriors first met, they produced 25 minutes of high-paced, white-knuckle action from start to finish.
And while the Chinese fighter was in the driver’s seat for much of the contest thanks to his punishing leg kicks and explosive striking, Le also enjoyed moments of success, even mounting a dramatic fifth-round surge of offense.
If history is any indication, fans can expect another barnburner in the rematch.
#2 They’re Both Prolific Finishers
Although their first fight went to the judges’ scorecards, these competitors are two of ONE’s most dangerous knockout artists.
Le owns an absurd 100 percent finishing rate across his 13 career wins, earning all but one of them via KO.
Meanwhile, Tang sports a 76 percent finishing rate – all by knockout. And before squaring off with Le, he’d stopped three straight opponents in the first round.
#3 Tang‘s Massive Fan Base In China
Adding to the drama, the newly crowned featherweight MMA king has garnered massive support from his home country of China.
As a history-making World Champion, Tang will come into this rematch feeling loads of support – and heavy pressure – from millions of Chinese fans.
Whether the 27-year-old continues to meet his lofty expectations or cracks under the heavy burden, the hopes of combat sports fans in the country will be riding on his next performance.
#4 A Chance To See Le’s Elite Grappling
Although their first bout was almost entirely a stand-up war, fans can expect to see a more dynamic, all-around fight in the rematch.
Specifically, Le will likely make a more concerted effort to bring the defending World Champion to the canvas, where he can show off some of his BJJ black belt submission skills.
After coming up short in the striking department last time, look for the Vietnamese-American to test Tang in new ways, making for an even more intriguing stylistic matchup.
#5 Tang’s Incredible Winning Streak
Finally, martial arts fans will want to see if the ONE Featherweight World Champion can extend his years-long unbeaten run as he tries to further entrench himself as the best in the weight class.
The numbers behind Tang’s streak are staggering.
The Sunkin International Fight Club representative has won 10 fights in a row dating back to 2017, including seven bouts against the best of the best in ONE.
And of those 10 victories, all but three have come by way of stoppage.
