3 Performances That Show Why Tang Kai Can Cause Problems for Thanh Le at ONE 160

Top-ranked contender Tang Kai has demonstrated on numerous occasions that he is the man to beat in ONE Championship’s featherweight division.

The Chinese phenom has been calling for a shot at the divisional crown for some time now, and at ONE 160 on August 26, he’ll get his chance when he steps into the Circle to challenge ONE Featherweight World Champion Thanh Le.

His well-rounded arsenal has pushed him to six successive wins at the Singapore-based promotion, and ahead of his return, we take a look at three of his best performances to show why he could be the new titleholder in the stacked weight class by the time ONE 160 concludes.

Crushing head kick KO in his debut

Tang announced himself to ONE’s global fanbase in impressive style when he finished Sung Jong Lee in his promotional debut in 2019.

It wasn’t an easy start for the Chinese athlete, as his South Korean rival almost caught him with a submission attempt in the opening round. However, Tang’s knowledge on the canvas allowed him to maneuver his way out of the position.

When the match resumed on the feet, the 26-year-old put his stand-up game to work and dominated most of the exchanges.

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As the second round got underway, it was clear that Tang was lining up a finish. And 74 seconds into the frame, he let go a devastating left kick that connected with Sung’s face and left him unconscious on the mat.

His come-from-behind victory exhibited why there was so much hype surrounding him prior to his ONE debut.

Striking artillery ousts knockout specialist

When Tang took on fellow knockout specialist Ryogo Takahashi in March 2021, it was guaranteed that there would be a finish, and the Chinese star’s fight IQ, precision, and ruthlessness allowed him to thrive against his Japanese opponent.

Tang broke down Takahashi with a masterclass of strikes and kicks right from the opening bell.

The Sunkin International Fight Club standout increased the pressure as the clock wore on and displayed incredible dexterity by cutting angles and landing even more powerful shots.

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Tang brought an end to the proceedings before the bell in round one thanks to a crisp right hand that caught Takahashi square on the jaw. He followed up with a left hand, a hammerfist, and a bucketload of hooks to convince the referee to intervene and hand him his fourth win in ONE.

Grabbing divisional top spot with an emphatic finish

“The Fighting God” Kim Jae Woong was dismissive of Tang’s impressive run inside the ONE Circle in the lead-up to their tussle at ONE X this past March. The then top-ranked featherweight contender said he viewed the bout as a warm-up fight before taking on divisional king Thanh Le.

But the South Korean star ended up eating his words when he faced Tang, who put his rival’s lights out and snatched the top spot in the rankings at the same time.

Tang was laser-focused to win at all costs, and his footwork and movement ensured Kim caught mostly air when stepping forward with strikes and kicks.

The knockout artist relied on his counterattacking game to hurt “The Fighting God,” and his ability to connect allowed him to land a big finish after just 127 seconds of the first frame.

Kim lunged in with a straight right, but Tang stood his ground and replied with a two-shot combination. The first narrowly missed the mark, but the left hook that followed instantly put the South Korean’s lights out.

Tang’s dominance was now undeniable, and he set himself on a collision course with Le thanks to the emphatic win.

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