Lucas Gabriel Gets Second Chance Against Magomed Akaev at ONE Fight Night 39
The injury that derailed Lucas Gabriel’s December plans created more than disappointment — it fueled determination burning hotter than before.
On Friday, January 23, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium at ONE Fight Night 39 on Prime Video, the undefeated Brazilian rising star finally gets his chance to prove himself against Russian destroyer Magomed Akaev in a lightweight MMA clash that promises to shake up the division’s landscape.
This matchup carries weight beyond simple competition. Originally scheduled for ONE Fight Night 38 last weekend, Akaev’s injury forced postponement and left both fighters in limbo. The Dagestani powerhouse spent weeks recovering while Gabriel watched opportunities pass him by. Now fully healthy and hungry for validation, they’re set to collide in 2026’s first U.S. primetime event with everything to gain and nowhere to hide.
Gabriel’s perfect 3-0 record inside ONE Championship tells only part of his story. The 25-year-old breakout star earned his reputation through the weekly pressure cooker of ONE Friday Fights, where his polished skill set blending crisp striking with suffocating grappling turned heads throughout 2024. His October arm-triangle submission victory over previously unbeaten Gadzhimurad Amirzhanov pushed his career record to 9-1 and announced his arrival among the lightweight division’s most dangerous new threats.
Yet Gabriel carries unfinished business into January. His no contest with Zhang Lipeng at ONE Fight Night 31 in May left a hollow feeling that victory alone can satisfy. He views Akaev not as an obstacle but as an opportunity — the chance to deliver a performance establishing him among the division’s elite contenders while erasing any doubt about his championship potential.
Akaev represents everything Gabriel must overcome to reach that level. Before joining ONE Championship, the Dagestani carved a flawless 10-0 record across Russia with seven stoppages showcasing the ruthless efficiency defining his region’s most feared fighters. His promotional debut brought a razor-close split decision loss to Ibragim Dauev at ONE Fight Night 32, yet the narrow setback only intensified his competitive fire rather than diminished his confidence.
The Russian destroyer enters Bangkok seeking redemption of his own. Months spent recovering from injury while watching lightweight action unfold without him created frustration that transforms into motivation. He sees Gabriel as the perfect opponent to announce his true capabilities — a rising Brazilian star with an undefeated promotional record whose hype train needs derailing. Victory would thrust Akaev back into the ONE Lightweight MMA World Title conversation while proving his debut loss was merely a learning experience rather than a ceiling.
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