Brazilian upstart Lucas Gabriel is eager to prove he’s a true force in ONE Championship’s lightweight MMA division when he makes his U.S. primetime debut this Friday, May 2.
Brazilian upstart Lucas Gabriel is eager to prove he’s a true force in ONE Championship’s lightweight MMA division when he makes his U.S. primetime debut this Friday, May 2.
The 25-year-old will take on dangerous Chinese veteran “The Warrior” Zhang Lipeng at ONE Fight Night 31: Kongthoranee vs. Nong-O II on Prime Video, which broadcasts live from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
For Gabriel, it will mark the most difficult test of his nearly flawless 10-fight professional career.
He recently spoke to onefc.com and was quick to praise Zhang, who holds a significant experience advantage:
“I know Zhang Lipeng is a strong and experienced opponent. He has fought in major events, so I believe he will be a great challenge for me.”
Indeed, the 35-year-old Chinese fighter is no stranger to facing the best of the best, and he will come into this contest following a sensational first-round finish in February at ONE Fight Night 28.
Gabriel, though, has racked up three straight wins at ONE Friday Fights to announce himself as a serious threat on the global stage.
He’s now excited to make his mark in front of an even bigger audience – and he’s identified more than one path to victory:
“I see a lot of gaps in Zhang’s game, both on the ground and standing, and I want to take advantage of those gaps.”
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a dynamic striking game, Gabriel has impressed fans with his relentless pressure and world-class grappling prowess.
His perfect promotional record and ruthless finishing instincts make him a dangerous matchup for anyone in the division.
But beyond his physical gifts and technical abilities, the Brazilian is buoyed by his supreme self-confidence. No matter how the matchup with Zhang plays out, he’s positive he’ll emerge victorious:
“I don’t like to talk about predictions because MMA is full of surprises, but I’m very confident that I’ll win. If the match is on the ground, I’ll be ready. If I need to take him down, I’ll take him down. And if the fight goes to striking, he’ll be frustrated. I’m ready for anything, and I hope to have an excellent performance and win.”
Zhang Lipeng represents Lucas Gabriel’s most significant challenge to date. After all, “The Warrior” brings extensive high-profile experience and a battle-hardened skill set that will surely test the Brazilian’s abilities.
While Gabriel admitted as much, that doesn’t mean he’s worried about the outcome:
“He is dangerous both standing and on the ground, has a lot of knockout power, and has a lot of submissions in his career. He is a complete MMA fighter, just like me, but I believe I am better than him in all areas, and I will prove that in the fight.”
Knowing that a fourth consecutive victory would likely earn him another step up in competition, Gabriel is hungry to make a statement at ONE Fight Night 31.
Not intimidated by his foe’s lengthy resume, he said that his own adaptability will be a major key to victory.
“I have a very versatile game and movement that can confuse him. I can fight both standing and on the ground. I am a black belt in jiu-jitsu, and I consider myself an experienced striker, so wherever the fight unfolds, I will be ready.”