History-making Chinese mixed martial artist Tang Kai silenced doubters by successfully defending his ONE Championship featherweight world title with a TKO win over challenger Shamil Gasanov in Bangkok on Friday.

Tang, a 30-year-old kickboxer from Hunan province, proved he had come back stronger from a TKO defeat to Kyrgyzstan's Akbar Abdullaev as he dictated the bout against Gasanov from the get-go with patience and finesse in the main event of ONE Fight Night 43 at the Lumpinee Stadium.

Gasanov, a Russian wrestling specialist known as "The Cobra", entered the bout as perhaps the most complete challenger Tang had faced on the back a five-bout winning streak.

Having learned his lesson in dealing with a dangerous grappler in his loss to Abdullaev, Tang countered with composure and precision.