ONE Championship will begin its 2026 U.S. primetime calendar with ONE Fight Night 39 on 24 January, featuring two exciting MMA bouts that will air live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The event features a lightweight MMA battle between Brazil's Lucas Gabriel and Russia's Magomed Akaev, a matchup that was previously scheduled for ONE Fight Night 38 before an injury forced Akaev to withdraw.
Gabriel, a 25-year-old Nova Uniao Phuket product based in Phuket, holds an unblemished 3-0 promotional record to complement his 10-1 career slate. His most recent result was changed to a no contest, making him determined to secure a clear-cut victory in this rescheduled encounter.
The 29-year-old Akaev experienced a difficult promotional debut, losing a hard-fought split decision to fellow Russian Ibragim Dauev. The Black Dragon fighter carries a 10-1 professional record and seeks his first ONE Championship win to announce his arrival in the lightweight division.
Additionally, the card showcases a strawweight MMA contest pitting #3-ranked contender Bokang Masunyane against Japan's Ryohei Kurosawa.
South Africa's Masunyane comes off back-to-back defeats against top-tier opposition but remains a dangerous contender with four promotional victories. The 31-year-old has enjoyed particular success against Japanese fighters, defeating three during his ONE Championship tenure, which could provide confidence heading into this critical bounce-back opportunity.
The 32-year-old Kurosawa earned a successful promotional debut in September 2025, securing a unanimous decision over Philippines' Jayson Miralpez. With a 20-4 career record, the Blackbelt Japan representative enters his second ONE Championship bout aiming to build momentum in the strawweight ranks.
These two MMA matchups set the tone for ONE Championship's 2026 U.S. primetime series, featuring fighters hungry to prove themselves and advance toward title contention at ONE Fight Night 39.
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