In a thrilling turn of events, ONE Championship fans are in for a treat this October as Thanh Le and Ilya Freymanov are set to collide in a headlining bout for the interim featherweight title. This exciting matchup is scheduled to take place on October 6th at the Lumpinee Stadium in the vibrant city of Bangkok, Thailand. The news of this clash was confirmed by ONE Championship officials, sending shockwaves of excitement through the MMA community.
The interim title showdown was necessitated by an unfortunate twist of fate for the reigning featherweight champion, Tang Kai, who fell victim to an injury, temporarily sidelining him from the octagon. Tang had originally claimed the gold with a memorable victory over Thanh Le in August 2022. However, his dreams of a successful title defense will have to wait until he’s back to full health.
In the meantime, Thanh Le is eager to seize the interim title, building on the momentum of an impressive five-fight winning streak within the ONE Championship ranks. His victories over notable opponents like Martin Nguyen and grappling sensation Garry Tonon have solidified his reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the featherweight division. With a 5-1 record in ONE, boasting five knockouts, Thanh Le’s only blemish on his record came from a decision loss to Tang Kai, adding extra spice to this impending rematch.
On the other side of the cage stands Ilya Freymanov, a Russian fighter with a 2-0 record in ONE Championship. Freymanov’s last outing saw him secure a submission victory against Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg in June, showcasing his diverse skill set. With an overall record of 12-2, Freymanov aims to etch his name in the history books by claiming the interim title in just his third appearance with ONE.
Le vs. Freymanov is the crown jewel of an already star-studded lineup at ONE Fight Night 15. The event promises to be a spectacle, featuring not only this epic featherweight clash but also three more title fights spanning Muay Thai and kickboxing. Additionally, fans can look forward to a grappling supermatch pitting Mikey Musumeci against ex-ONE champion Shinya Aoki.
For those eager to witness this electrifying showdown, mark your calendars. The card will be broadcast live in the United States via Amazon Prime Video, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET on October 6th. It’s a night of action and anticipation as Thanh Le and Ilya Freymanov vie for the interim featherweight championship, promising an unforgettable spectacle for MMA enthusiasts worldwide.
