5 Takeaways From ONE Fight Night 27: Tang vs. Abdullaev
On January 10, ONE Championship returned for its first U.S. primetime event of 2025 with ONE Fight Night 27: Tang vs. Abdullaev on Prime Video.
Fans witnessed nine bouts of thrilling action across MMA, Muay Thai, and submission grappling. Whether it was back-and-forth battles, rising contenders making their marks, or a new queen taking her crown, there was a little something for everyone.
Here are five big takeaways from another memorable show in Bangkok, Thailand.
Adullaev Proves His Championship Caliber
Akbar Abdullaev thoroughly dominated featherweight MMA titleholder Tang Kai over the course of five rounds in their main event collision at ONE Fight Night 27. Unfortunately, the Kyrgyz sensation missed weight and could not claim the ONE Featherweight MMA World Championship.
While no World Title was on the line, “Bakal” gave a proof of concept with his resounding fifth-round TKO victory, proving without a doubt that he is a World Champion-caliber competitor.
Abdullaev pushed his professional record to a clean 12-0, having finished all 12 opponents before the final bell.
Everything the 27-year-old did inside the ring was successful, as he showcased brilliant striking on the feet, overwhelming takedown offense, and devastating ground-and-pound.
While he must prove himself outside of the ring next time, the incredible performance sent a clear message to Tang and the rest of the division. Abdullaev made himself the uncrowned king and the most dangerous threat to the throne.
Zamboanga Finally Claims Gold
Denice Zamboanga made her ONE debut in December 2019. After setbacks and disappointments, she finally realized her dream of wearing 26 pounds of gold by capturing the ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship against Alyona Rassohyna.
Zamboanga did her career-best work in front of both fans and reigning titleholder Stamp Fairtex by showcasing her evolution as a mixed martial artist.
On the feet, “The Menace” was crisp and precise. When Rassohyna threatened with a submission, she defended well. And when she needed to adapt to her opponent’s game plan, she turned defense into offense and took the top position to finish the match by ground-and-pound.
The Filipina superstar displayed everything it takes to be a World Champion – skill, heart, and an unwavering determination to improve every single day.
Now that she has secured the interim title, the chance to unify the gold against Stamp looms in the distance. There is still work to do, and Zamboanga will get another opportunity to show why she is at the top of the sport.
Lessei Lays Groundwork For Big 2025
American star and #5-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender Luke Lessei turned up the heat on Cody Jerome in their 160.5-pound catchweight battle. The overwhelming fire that burned was enough to wilt the Canadian in just two minutes.
“The Chef” served up his full arsenal against Jerome, first dropping his foe with a left kick to the liver. Although the Road to ONE: Canada winner got back up and soldiered on, he was clearly still hurt.
Sensing he had the upper hand, Lessei went right back to the body for a second knockdown. Jerome’s toughness could not be denied as he rose again, but a third and final knockdown was soon on the menu thanks to a right elbow.
The bonus-winning TKO was pivotal for Lessei, who got back in the win column to build momentum for what he hopes is a special year.
Leon Evens The Score With Langaker
In 2018, Tommy Langaker edged out Dante Leon by points in their meeting at the IBJJF Pan-American Championships. Nearly seven years later, Leon evened the score in a 180-pound catchweight submission grappling contest.
The victory did not come easily. The two talented submission aces jockeyed for position and met each other’s aggressiveness for 10 minutes. In the end, Leon’s late-round armbar attempt tipped the scales in his favor.
Leon is now 2-0 on the global stage in as many months, and the hot start to his ONE tenure will open the door to even bigger matchups.
Up next, the 29-year-old Canadian could see many more high-profile opportunities in 2025, including joining the hunt for the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship.
Meng Shakes Up Atomweight MMA Division
Meng Bo’s move from strawweight to the atomweight MMA division picked up a lot of steam after a dominant three-round performance against #3-ranked contender Chihiro Sawada.
Sawada had enjoyed a hot start to her ONE career with three consecutive victories, all showcasing her elite ground game. Meng, however, thwarted her foe’s takedown attempts and powered herself to a unanimous decision win.
Following Zamboanga’s Interim World Title victory and Sawada’s first career loss, the waters in the deep end of the atomweight talent pool will be teeming with contenders attempting to position themselves near the top.
With an undisputed World Champion set to emerge next, the division will have a feeding frenzy in 2025, and Meng may have introduced herself as the most imposing shark.
