The ONE Championship lightweight title fight between champion Tang Kai and challenger Shamil Gasanov has been rescheduled to May 15, 2026, at ONE Fight Night 43. Tang Kai holds a record of 19-4 overall with an 8-1 record in ONE Championship, while Gasanov enters with a 16-1 overall record and 6-1 mark in the promotion. The bout was originally scheduled for a different date but has been moved to this new event. Both fighters have been performing well in ONE Championship's lightweight division, making this a significant title fight. The reason for the date change was not specified in the announcement.
ONE Championship has reshuffled its lightweight title picture, officially moving the featherweight gold showdown between champion Tang Kai and challenger Shamil Gasanov to ONE Fight Night 43 on May 15, 2026.
The promotion confirmed the date change without specifying a reason for the rescheduling. Tang Kai enters the bout carrying a 19-4 overall record and an 8-1 mark inside ONE Championship, numbers that reflect his consistent dominance since establishing himself as the division's standard-bearer. Gasanov brings a similarly impressive 16-1 overall record into the contest, going 6-1 in the promotion and presenting himself as one of the most credible threats to Tang Kai's reign in recent memory.
Why it matters
- Tang Kai's 8-1 ONE Championship record signals he has already absorbed and recovered from adversity inside the promotion, adding weight to his championship credentials.
- Gasanov's lone ONE loss shows a challenger who has been tested and has largely passed every examination, making his path to this title shot a legitimate one.
- A rescheduled date rather than a cancelled contest suggests both fighters remain healthy and committed, keeping the lightweight division's most consequential matchup on track.
The lightweight title fight now anchors ONE Fight Night 43, with both men carrying nearly unblemished promotional records into a contest that will define the division's direction heading into the second half of 2026.
