“We Are Not Going to a Decision” – Thanh Le Eyeing Finish in His Upcoming Clash Against Ilya Freymanov for the ONE Interim Featherweight MMA World Title

Thanh Le isn’t used to his fights going to the scorecards, and he believes his upcoming battle will be another quick one.

The ONE Interim Featherweight MMA World Title will be on the line when the former divisional king meets #3-ranked Ilya Freymanov in the main event of ONE Fight Night 15 this Friday, October 6, inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Thanh Le offers his predictions ahead of the battle with Ilya Freymanov

Through 16 professional fights, Le has only seen the final bell once – in his World Title loss to Tang Kai at ONE 160 in August 2022. Win or lose, the Vietnamese-American has always left everything on the table to ensure that his matches are entertaining. He’ll have a fellow finisher opposite him in Friday’s fight, given that 10 of Freymanov’s 12 career wins have gone the distance, including his two fights in the world’s largest martial arts organization so far.

The Russian star announced himself on debut by knocking out former two-division ONE World Champion Martin Nguyen at ONE on Prime Video 2 in September 2022, and he followed it up with a first-round submission win over the hard-hitting Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg at ONE Fight Night 11 this past June. Le is feeling confident as he makes his final preparation for ONE Fight Night 15, and he offers a couple of ways his match with Freymanov could end, with neither being by decision.

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“I’ll give you a two-part prediction. I think if he comes out, feels a little bit of movement and power and doesn’t change his game plan, then it’ll be a first-rounder,” he told ONE in an interview. “If he is a smart fighter, if he makes his adjustments and doesn’t get put out early, I think it’s maybe a late third-round finish. But it’s going to be a finish.”  With 23 stoppages in 30 matches combined, it’s fair to expect a finish from the main event protagonists.

A win over Freymanov can give Le shot at the ONE featherweight world title 

Le prides himself on being able to produce exciting fights every time he competes, and he was disappointed that his last match went the distance. The 50/50 and MidCity MMA representative is determined not to let that happen ever again, and he promises to deliver a show-stopping performance in his next outing – one way or another.

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“I say this every fight. And I was right, except for the last fight. That’s the first time I’ve ever gone to a decision. It was nasty. I didn’t like it. We are not going to a decision. I promise you this,” Le said. ONE Fight Night 15 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, October 6. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is free for all Prime Video subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.