Top Reasons to Catch ONE 166

Kai Tang is looking for a repeat performance against Thanh Le tomorrow morning! Will he pull it off?#ONE166: March 1 at 7:30 a.m. ET ⁠
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— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) February 29, 2024

Whenever ONE Championship looks to expand its territory, opportunity and dollar signs typically provide the motivation.

The Chatri Sityodtong-led organization will move into yet another market and it will do so with three championship bouts at the top of the bill when ONE 166 goes down this Friday at the Lusail Sports Arena in Lusail, Qatar. It marks the company’s first trip to the Middle East since it touched down in the United Arab Emirates in August 2014. The 10-bout lineup features matches in mixed martial arts, boxing and submission grappling, as it shines the spotlight on a number of talented and charismatic combat sports competitors. Showstopping fireworks are a virtual guarantee.

Here are three reasons to watch ONE 166:

Uncharted Territory

Anatoly Malykhin will take his swings at history when he attempts to become the first-ever three-division champion in a major mixed martial arts promotion. Already in possession of the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles, the undefeated Russian challenges Reinier de Ridder for the undisputed middleweight crown in the main event. Malykhin, 36, has already beaten “The Dutch Knight” once before, having dismissed him with punches in the ONE on Prime Video 5 headliner in December 2022. He has secured all 13 of his career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. De Ridder, meanwhile, has not fought since Malykhin dethroned him as light heavyweight champion more than 400 days ago. The setback was his first as a pro, left him with a bitter taste in his mouth and pointed him toward vengeance.

A Rivalry Revived

Kai Tang will put his ONE featherweight championship on the line against Thanh Le—the man he dethroned—in the co-headliner at 155 pounds. The burgeoning Chinese star steps back into the spotlight after an extended absence on the strength of a 10-fight winning streak. Kang, 28, has not suited up since he unseated Le in a five-round unanimous decision at ONE 160 on Aug. 26, 2022. He has nailed down 13 of his 17 professional wins by knockout or technical knockout, seven of them inside one round, and owns a perfect 7-0 record under the ONE banner. On the other side of the equation, Le remains as potent as ever while navigating his late 30s. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 22 graduate has rattled off six victories across his past seven appearances. A taekwondo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, the 38-year-old Le last fought at ONE on Prime Video 15, where he subdued Ilya Freymanov with a heel hook and laid claim to the organization’s interim featherweight title on Oct. 6.

Final Straw

Joshua Pacio wants what used to belong to him. The 28-year-old Filipino standout will rematch Jarred Brooks for the undisputed ONE strawweight title in a five-round showcase at 125 pounds. Pacio has held the strawweight crown twice previously, from Sept. 22, 2018 to Jan. 19, 2019 and again from April 12, 2019 to Dec. 3, 2022. All told, he spent 1,450 days atop the division. Pacio last competed on Oct. 6, when he procured a three-round unanimous decision over Mansur Malachiev at ONE on Prime Video 15. Brooks, meanwhile, carries a stellar 20-2 record into his first title defense. “The Monkey God” has not tasted defeat in nearly five years and finds himself on a six-fight winning streak. Victories over Pacio, Bokang Masunyane, Koha Minowa and Lito Adiwang highlight his brief but eventful run on the ONE roster.