Chinese KO Artist Has Strong Message For Reigning ONE Featherweight King

The highly-anticipated rematch between former lightweight champion Christian Lee and the man who took it from him, Ok Rae Yoon, is set to happen in just a few weeks at ONE 160.

A fight that mixed martial arts (MMA) fans are also on the lookout for is the co-main event where ONE featherweight titleholder Thanh Le will look to fend off rising star Tang Kai.

Both men have proven their mettle inside the cage as Le rattled off five-straight knockout victories, while Tang will be putting up his own six-fight win streak on the line against the Vietnamese-American.

Tang was quick to call out Le in a recent interview, claiming that the champion is close to getting beat by Father Time and should call it quits before it even happens.

"He is now approaching the end of his career. I think he's 36 or 37 years old, and he has a family and kids. I don't think he will focus on the game and training," Tang proclaimed.

"Thanh Le, you're old. It's time to retire. I'll be the new king of the featherweight division."

Despite entering ONE Championship late into his career, Le has proven to be one of the craftier fighters on the roster as he has taken out most of his opponents in under two rounds, only having one fight going to the third.

Le has had great success with ONE Championship, but Tang fully believes that he will be the one to hand him his first loss in the promotion and boldly predicted that he just might punch his lights out.

"He was not hit in ONE Championship before, but when I meet him, I just have to punch him, and he will be defeated. My reading [of the fight] and skills are better than his. I am better at seizing opportunities. I don't think this game will go to a decision. I think I'll KO him," he mentioned.

Tang can more than back up his claims of knocking him out as he has proven in the first-round finishes of Ryogo Takahashi, Yoon Chang Min and Jae Woong Kim in his most recent fights.

The top Chinese prospect is fully aware that the road to becoming an MMA champion will not be easy, but with a golden opportunity right ahead of him, Tang is leaning on his family ties to get him through the fight.

"My family is my motivation because I want to make a better life for them. ... No matter how much I have sacrificed, how much I have given, how many difficulties I have encountered, when I win the next match and win the World Championship, I will feel that all my sacrifices and contributions were worth it," he declared.

ONE 160 will take place on August 26 at 8:30 PM SGT (8:30 AM ET) inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium.