Thanh Le promises to knockout old foe Tang Kai: “It’s going to be a finish”

Thanh Le is determined to settle the score with Tang Kai in the most decisive way possible.

Both men will run it back in a ONE Featherweight MMA World Title unification bout at ONE 166: Qatar this Friday, March 1. The historic event takes place at the majestic Lusail Sports Arena.

The first encounter in August 2022 was a closely contested battle that went the distance. Ultimately, though, it resulted in a loss for Le.

That setback fuels the Vietnamese-American’s determination to reclaim his throne and rewrite the narrative of his rivalry with Tang.

“He’s going to sleep, and he’s going to sleep early,” Le said.

Boasting a professional record of 14-3, Le is no stranger to finishing fights. In fact, every one of his victories has come by way of either knockout or submission.

Tang, on the other hand, is renowned for his knockout power. He’s finished the majority of his 15 wins via KO.

While both men possess the capability to end the match in an instant, Le envisions only one outcome — an emphatic win.

“It’s going to be a finish. I’m not doing another decision in my entire career. Whether he was happy with it or not — I’m sure he was because he ended up getting a belt that night — that’s not happening again. We’re going to come in hot, press the action, and he’s going to feel my power early,” Le said.

“I’ll be honest with you. If we make it out of the first round, I’ll be surprised.”

Thanh Le plans to give Tang Kai a rude awakening

The rematch with Tang Kai has been Thanh Le’s driving force over the past year and a half.

The current ONE Interim Featherweight MMA World Champion eagerly anticipates showcasing the development he has made in his game to overturn the previous result.

“We had a lot of time to get a nice fight in between, sharpen a bunch of skills, and get some specific game plan stuff implemented. I really can’t mess those things up because we’ve done them so much now,” Le said.

“[Tang] is in trouble, man. He’s in trouble this time.”