Tang: I'll KO any doubt over division's 'true king'

Chinese fighter vows to reclaim belt in rematch of knockout specialists

China's first men's MMA world champion Tang Kai is out to prove he is the "true king" of the ONE Championship's featherweight division as he shapes up for a high-stakes rematch against interim belt holder Thanh Le.

A rightful champion, yet constantly doubted by some fans, Tang is keen on letting the world know who really rules the fiercely competitive 155-pound (70-kilogram) division of the Singapore-based promotion when he locks horns again with Le, a veteran Vietnamese-American fighter, on Friday in Qatar.

Sticking to a methodical game plan of evading to counterattack, Tang, as the underdog, dethroned Le via a five-round unanimous decision in August 2022 to become the first Chinese man to win a major MMA world title.