Leg kick secures MMA championship belt for Vietnamese fighter

Tran Ngoc Luong landed a decisive leg kick to defeat Le Van Tuan, claiming the men's 60kg title at Vietnam's largest mixed martial arts event, LION Championship (LC).

At 3 minutes and 13 seconds into the third round, Luong's low kick connected with Tuan's left leg, effectively disabling him. Tuan stumbled and then collapsed, unable to continue. He signaled his surrender, raising a hand to block a potential follow-up strike before referee Tran Dai Trieu intervened.

The Cam Ranh Square in Khanh Hoa erupted in cheers as the clock neared midnight on 16/8. Luong was declared the winner by technical knockout.

Tran Ngoc Luong (blue) defeats Le Van Tuan by technical knockout in the 60kg title fight at LION Championship 25, Cam Ranh Square, Khanh Hoa, 16/8/2025. Photo: LC

The 1993-born fighter climbed onto the cage, sat atop it, and shouted "I am the champion!" three times. Meanwhile, Tuan remained on the floor, leaning against the octagon wall, his face contorted in pain. Luong then approached, embraced him, and spoke with him before helping him to his feet and raising his hand.

The men's 60kg title fight at LION's 25th event was scheduled for five five-minute rounds. Both fighters displayed their best skills.

In the first round, Tuan showcased impressive combinations of low and high kicks followed by powerful punches, suggesting an early lead. In the second round, Luong, a jiu-jitsu expert, took the fight to the ground. He secured Tuan's back and attempted a chokehold, but Tuan demonstrated his resilience and escaped the dangerous position.

Source: VTVCab

By the third round, Tuan's stamina appeared to wane, though he remained dangerous, capitalizing on Luong's attacks with well-timed counter-strikes. However, his tactics seemed predictable, and he couldn't prevent the decisive leg kick that ended the fight.

"It wasn't a particularly hard kick. If it were, I wouldn't be standing here," Luong said after the match. "Tuan and I are disappointed we couldn't fight the remaining two rounds for the fans. This certainly isn't the end for me."

Tran Ngoc Luong (blue) defeats Le Van Tuan by technical knockout in the 60kg title fight at LION Championship 25, Cam Ranh Square, Khanh Hoa, 16/8/2025. Photo: LC

On the LION Championship fan page, both fighters received praise for their thrilling performance. "If it weren't for Luong, Tuan could have won," one commenter wrote. "Tuan's kicks were powerful, but Luong's ability to absorb blows was also impressive," another added.

Luong was initially scheduled to fight Brazilian Robson Oliveira for the 60kg title at LION 24 on 12/7. However, the fight was canceled due to Oliveira's broken leg sustained during a ONE Championship bout. This incident sparked controversy in the MMA community, particularly between Luong's AGOGE team and Robson's C88 team.

The tension between the two teams escalated when Le Van Tuan defeated Pham Van Nam at LION 23 in June to win the men's 56kg title. The match between Tuan and Luong was then arranged.

Luong remained relatively silent during the preparations leading up to the pre-fight press conference. Meanwhile, Tuan expressed excitement at the opportunity to become the first fighter to hold two LION belts.

The victory propels Luong past Tuan to 4th place in the Pound for Pound rankings, behind champions Pham Cong Minh (84kg), Nghiem Van Y (65kg), and Jovidon Khojaev (Tajikistan, 70kg). The Pound for Pound ranking compares top fighters regardless of weight class to determine the most skilled and powerful.

Luong began his career in vovinam, then transitioned to kickboxing and jiu-jitsu. He has won four national jiu-jitsu gold medals and a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Since 2023, Luong has competed in MMA, with a record of 9 wins and one loss. His only defeat came against Japanese fighter Kaito Oda at ONE Championship in 2024.

Le Van Tuan, born in 1994 in Cao Bang, worked various jobs, from ride-hailing driver and noodle vendor to factory worker, before becoming a professional fighter. He began martial arts training at 19, studying traditional Vietnamese martial arts under master Phi Ngoc Long in Dong Nai.

At the first LION event in 9/2022, Tuan lost his debut match by technical knockout to Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat despite having a chance to win via submission. He then lost three consecutive matches before defeating Duong Thanh Hung at LC 8. Despite his ups and downs, Tuan is considered one of the fastest-improving MMA fighters in Vietnam. Despite his loss to Luong, he remains the LION 56kg champion.