Tang Kai set to defend ONE Featherweight MMA World Title against Shamil Gasanov at ONE Fight Night 43

Tang Kai makes his second featherweight title defense when he faces Russia’s Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov in the main event of ONE Fight Night 43 on Prime Video on May 16 live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 30-year-old Sunkin International Fight Club representative has been a dominant force at featherweight since arriving in ONE Championship. He became China’s first male MMA world champion at ONE 160 in August 2022, outpointing then-divisional king Thanh Le across five rounds with composed, surgical striking. He returned home to Shaoyang to a hero’s welcome.

Their unification rematch at ONE 166: Qatar in March 2024 was even more emphatic. Tang broke Le down with greater authority, finishing him by TKO in the third round to unify the belts, earn a US$50,000 bonus, and push his finishing rate to 79 percent across 19 professional victories.

His most recent outing — a non-title catchweight bout at ONE Fight Night 27 after challenger Akbar Abdullaev missed weight — ended in defeat. Tang absorbed his first promotional loss. The title, however, remains his, and May 16 is his answer.

Shamil Gasanov brings suffocating grappling into ONE Fight Night 42 title shot

Shamil Gasanov has done everything required to earn this moment. The Peresvet Fight Team and Tiger Muay Thai representative carries an 18-1 professional record and six ONE Championship victories into this title fight, building his case one dominant performance at a time.

He announced himself in ONE with a first-round rear-naked choke of knockout specialist Kim Jae Woong. He then took apart former longtime divisional ruler Martin Nguyen to solidify his standing among the division’s elite. At ONE Fight Night 34 last August, he closed the book on the one blemish on his record — a revenge decision win over decorated grappler Garry Tonon removed any remaining doubt about his title credentials.

Gasanov’s calling card is suffocating grappling: relentless control, precise takedowns, and the patience to grind opponents into submission from anywhere on the mat. Tang Kai, by contrast, is a sharp, distance-managing striker who has broken down everyone put in front of him.

Two distinct styles, one belt. On May 16, something has to give.