Thanh Le

Last updated
Thanh J. Le
BornThanh James Le
(1985-08-28) August 28, 1985 (age 39)
Owensboro, Kentucky, United States
Nationality American
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb)
Division Featherweight (2017–2018)
Lightweight (2013–2016, 2019–present)
Reach74.5 in (189 cm)
Fighting out of Metairie, Louisiana, United States
TeamFifty/50 Striking Program [1]
MidCity MMA
Rank5th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo
Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu [1]
Years active2013–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total18
Wins14
By knockout12
By submission2
Losses4
By knockout2
By submission1
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Thanh James Le (born August 28, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist, currently competes in the Featherweight division for the ONE Championship, he is a former interim and lineal ONE Featherweight World Champion. A professional since 2012, Le has competed in Legacy Fighting Alliance. He also appeared on reality television series The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber.

Contents

Background

Le was born on August 28, 1985, in Owensboro, Kentucky, United States. His father migrated from Vietnam and met his mother in Kentucky, before the family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, when he was 5 years old. [2]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Le made his professional MMA debut in November 2013. Over the next, he fought in his native United States and earned a record of 4 wins against 1 losses with all of his wins coming via stoppages.

The Ultimate Fighter

On August 31, 2015, it was announced that Le would be a contestant on the 22nd season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, representing Team Faber. [3]

In the opening elimination bout, Le faced fellow American Andrés Quintana. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. [4]

Le represented Team Faber in the first preliminary fight of the season facing Sweden's Martin Svensson. He lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the second round. [5]

Legacy Fighting Alliance and Dana White's Contender Series

Le his promotional debut against Alex Black on February 10, 2017, at LFA 3. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. [6]

Le appeared in Dana White's Contender Series 2 on July 18, 2017, against Lazar Stojadinovic. He won the fight via knockout in the second round, he wasn't given a UFC contract. [7]

Le faced Bobby Moffett for the Interim LFA Featherweight Championship on January 19, 2018, at LFA 31. He won the fight via TKO in the second round to earn the title. [8]

Le fought in a unification bout for the LFA Featherweight Championship against Kevin Aguilar on May 25, 2018, at LFA 40. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round. [9]

ONE Championship

Le made his promotional debut against Yusup Saadulaev on May 3, 2019, at ONE: For Honor. He won the bout via knockout in the second round. [10]

Le faced former ONE Lightweight World Champion Kotetsu Boku on August 16, 2019, at ONE: Dreams of Gold. [11] He won the bout via knockout in the first round. [12]

Le faced Ryogo Takahashi on January 10, 2020, at ONE: A New Tomorrow. [13] He won the bout via knockout in the first round. [14]

ONE Featherweight World Champion

Le faced Martin Nguyen for the ONE Featherweight World Championship on October 30, 2020, at ONE: Inside the Matrix. [15] He won the fight via TKO in the third round. [16]

Le was scheduled to defend his title against Garry Tonon on December 5, 2021, at ONE: X. [17] However, on October 28, 2021, the event was postponed to early 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic. [18] The fight was rescheduled for ONE: Lights Out on March 11, 2022. [19] He won the fight via knockout in the first round. [20] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. [21]

Le faced Tang Kai on August 26, 2022, at ONE 160. [22] He lost the fight and the title via unanimous decision. [23]

The rematch between Le and Tang for the ONE Featherweight World Championship was scheduled on July 15, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 12. [24] However, Tang withdraw from the bout due to knee injury and the bout was cancelled. [25]

Le faced Ilya Freymanov for the interim ONE Featherweight World Championship on October 7, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 15. [26] He won the bout via heel hook in the first round. [27] [28] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. [29]

Le faced Tang Kai in a rematch, for the ONE Featherweight World Championship unification bout on March 1, 2024, at ONE 166. [30] He lost the bout via technical knockout in round three. [31]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
18 matches14 wins4 losses
By knockout122
By submission21
By decision01
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss14–4 Tang Kai TKO (punches) ONE 166 March 1, 202434:48 Lusail, QatarFor the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb).
Win14–3Ilya FreymanovSubmission (heel hook) ONE Fight Night 15 October 7, 202311:02 Bangkok, ThailandWon the interim ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb). Performance of the Night.
Loss13–3 Tang Kai Decision (unanimous) ONE 160 August 26, 202255:00 Kallang, SingaporeLost the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb).
Win13–2 Garry Tonon KO (punches) ONE: Lights Out March 11, 202210:56 Kallang, SingaporeDefended the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb). Performance of the Night.
Win12–2 Martin Nguyen TKO (punches) ONE: Inside the Matrix October 30, 202032:19 Kallang, SingaporeWon the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb).
Win11–2Ryogo TakahashiKO (punches) ONE: A New Tomorrow January 10, 202012:51 Bangkok, Thailand
Win10–2 Kotetsu Boku KO (punches) ONE: Dreams of Gold August 16, 201911:28 Bangkok, Thailand
Win9–2Yusup SaadulaevKO (knee) ONE: For Honor May 3, 201920:12 Jakarta, IndonesiaReturn to Lightweight.
Loss8–2 Kevin Aguilar KO (punches) LFA 40 May 25, 201812:44 Dallas, Texas, United StatesFor the LFA Featherweight Championship.
Win8–1 Bobby Moffett TKO (punches) LFA 31 January 19, 201820:55 Phoenix, Arizona, United StatesWon the interim LFA Featherweight Championship.
Win7–1Lazar StojadinovicKO (head kick and punches) Dana White's Contender Series 2 July 18, 201721:35 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win6–1Alex BlackTKO (body kick and punches) LFA 3 February 10, 201711:43 Lake Charles, Louisiana, United StatesFeatherweight debut.
Win5–1Cody JamesTKO (punches)Mid City Fight Productions 1June 24, 201610:40 Avondale, Louisiana, United States
Win4–1 Josh Quayhagen TKO (punches)World Fighting Championships 31November 22, 201412:49 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Win3–1Shawn FitzsimmonsTKO (elbows)World Fighting Championships 27September 12, 201410:27 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Win2–1Matt VaughnSubmissionRenaissance MMA 30June 6, 201414:36 New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Win1–1Justin MartinTKO (punches)XFC: Le vs. MartinApril 5, 201412:44 Ponchatoula, Louisiana, United States
Loss0–1Robert DunnSubmission (rear-naked choke)Renaissance MMA 29November 8, 201314:58 New Orleans, Louisiana, United StatesLightweight debut.
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss1–1Martin SvenssonSubmission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber August 7, 2015 (airdate)23:48 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesTUF 22 Elimination round.
Win1–0Andrés QuintanaKO (punch)July 17, 2015 (airdate)12:27TUF 22 Qualifying round.

See also

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References

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