3 Lethal Knockouts From ONE Featherweight World Title Challenger Tang Kai
With a string of highlight-reel victories, Tang Kai has bludgeoned his way to a ONE Featherweight World Title shot.
On August 26, the Chinese slugger will challenge reigning king Thanh Le in the co-main event of ONE 160: Ok vs. Lee II, and most fans are anticipating an early finish when the concussive strikers go head-to-head.
With his immense skill and power, Tang believes he will earn his 10th straight victory and dethrone the Vietnamese-American at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Here, let’s relive three of his most lethal knockouts in ONE Championship so far.
#1 Earns Debut Win With Massive Head Kick
Tang announced himself to the global fan base with a stunning first performance against Sung Jong Lee at ONE: HERO’S ASCENT in January 2019.
The Chinese athlete’s surgical striking was the dominant factor in this match, although he did have to shake off a triangle-choke attempt from the South Korean grappler in the first frame.
Frustrated by his inability to produce more offense on the ground, Sung tried to press forward with strikes in round two. In response, the Sunkin International Fight Club representative stayed calm and let his opponent move into range.
Once that happened, Tang fired off inside low kicks behind his jab, before switching up his target with a lightning-fast left high kick.
Sung tried to block it, but the power was too much. The Chinese dynamo’s shin wrapped around his foe’s head and sent him facedown to the canvas for a memorable debut win.
#2 Left Hook Stops Yoon, Propels Tang Into Rankings
After winning his first four fights in ONE, Tang squared off with fellow rising star Yoon Chang Min at ONE: NEXTGEN II in November 2021.
The 26-year-old shrugged off Yoon’s early takedown attempts and imposed his will in the stand-up exchanges with a stiff jab and hard straight rights to the body.
“The Big Heart” tried to fire back, but Tang was too sharp and accurate, meaning the South Korean came off second-best in every exchange.
Yoon then attempted to keep his foe away by pawing out his jab, but the Chinese standout traversed the distance with a thudding left hook that clipped “The Big Heart’s” chin and sent him to the mat.
A few follow-up shots sealed the deal for Tang and pushed him into the featherweight division’s upper echelon with a first-round triumph.
#3 Earns World Title Shot With Statement KO Of Kim
Tang punched his ticket to a World Title encounter when he dispatched fellow heavy hitter Kim Jae Woong at ONE X this past March.
“The Fighting God” held the #1 spot in the division thanks to his recent KO of former ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin Nguyen, but #4-ranked Tang leapfrogged his South Korean rival with another spectacular first-round finish.
While Kim tried to load up on his punches, the Chinese striker stung his man with fast jabs and low kicks that showcased his accuracy.
That groundwork paid off when “The Fighting God” lunged in with a right hand. Tang stood his ground, uncorked a crunching cross-hook combination that dropped Kim to the canvas, and quickly finished the job with two hammerfists.
