Lucas Gabriel and Magomed Akaev finally meet at ONE Fight Night 40

Two lightweights get their long-awaited showdown. Lucas Gabriel and Magomed Akaev were supposed to fight twice already, but injuries kept derailing the matchup.

Gabriel faces Akaev in a lightweight MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 40 on Friday, February 13, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The bout was originally scheduled for ONE Fight Night 38 on December 5, 2025. Akaev pulled out with an injury. ONE quickly rebooked it for ONE Fight Night 39 on January 23. Then Gabriel withdrew due to injury. The promotion removed the fight from that card entirely.

Now the wait ends. After two false starts and months of anticipation, the lightweight duo finally settles things in Bangkok this month.

Gabriel enters with a 10-1 record and momentum from his ONE Friday Fights run. The 25-year-old BJJ black belt secured three victories that showcased his relentless pressure and grappling prowess. His most electrifying performance came when he submitted Gadzhimurad Amirzhanov, proving his finishing ability makes him one of the division’s most dangerous competitors.

The Brazilian defeated Zhang Lipeng in May 2025, though the bout was later overturned to a no contest. That night still proved memorable. Gabriel proposed to his longtime girlfriend immediately after the fight and got engaged.

Magomed Akaev seeks first promotional victory against Lucas Gabriel

Magomed Akaev makes his second promotional appearance. The 29-year-old Dagestani sanda specialist dropped a narrow split decision to Ibragim Dauev in his ONE Championship debut last June. He pushed the experienced Russian fighter for three hard-fought rounds but fell short.

The Black Dragon representative holds a 10-1 career record. His striking-based style creates problems for grapplers. Akaev needs to neutralize Gabriel’s grappling threats while establishing his own offense. The talent-rich lightweight MMA division doesn’t give second chances easily.

Gabriel represents the perfect opponent for Akaev’s redemption story. Beat the surging prospect and announce yourself as a real contender. Lose and questions emerge about whether you belong at this level. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.