‘I Don’t Think Age Is A Problem’ – Zhang Lipeng Targets Statement Win Over Rising Star Lucas Gabriel
Respected Chinese veteran “The Warrior” Zhang Lipeng is aiming to derail Lucas Gabriel‘s hype train when they collide in a pivotal lightweight MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 31: Kongthoranee vs. Nong-O II on Prime Video in U.S. primetime this Friday, May 2.
Fresh off a dominant first-round TKO victory over Hiroyuki Tetsuka earlier this year, Zhang is confident that his wealth of high-level experience will be the decisive factor against his younger foe.
While the 25-year-old Gabriel has racked up a pristine 3-0 record in ONE to earn this high-profile opportunity, “The Warrior” boasts 35 victories across his impressive professional career.
Zhang has been able to find consistent success thanks largely to his meticulous preparation for each and every fight. This time, he’s done his homework on the young Brazilian and has devised a detailed game plan accordingly.
The 35-year-old told onefc.com:
“I watched some videos of [Gabriel], who is quite a comprehensive fighter. But I think my all-around effectiveness can still match his. My training is focusing on his takedown defense and some ground techniques.”
A longtime torchbearer for Chinese MMA, Zhang has built his career on being adaptable in different types of matchups – equally capable of finishing opponents on the feet or the ground.
Indeed, his record reflects a mixture of both knockout and submission victories.
While he acknowledged that Gabriel’s youth could play a role at ONE Fight Night 31, he isn’t overly concerned about it affecting the outcome:
“Gabriel’s only advantage is that he is much younger than me. After watching his matches, I found that when he’s standing, his bursts of speed are very fast, so we need to prevent that. Although he is 10 years younger than me, I don’t think age is a problem.”
Zhang is far too wise to look past this clash with Gabriel, but ultimately, he still has future World Title aspirations.
He knows it’s essential to hand the rising star his first promotional defeat – ideally via stoppage – in order to crash the ONE Lightweight MMA World Title picture:
“If I win this match, I should be able to enter the top five in the lightweight division. My goal is to finish off my opponent.”
Zhang Says ‘Love Of The Sport’ Fuels His Determination
As the owner of two MMA gyms and with a mountain of elite fighting experience under his belt, Zhang Lipeng is now finding new sources of inspiration.
From training to teaching, he’s fully immersed in the all-around sport, and he wouldn’t have it any other way:
“I think my motivation to keep competing comes from my love for this sport. Because now, it’s not just me training. I also have my own gym and students. I want to set a good example for my students, both in training and in competition.”
Beyond his well-rounded game and top-notch finishing skills in all areas of combat, Zhang has honed his unshakable mental fortitude over the course of his career.
It’s that battle-hardened mindset that allows him to thrive in high-pressure situations. Against Lucas Gabriel at ONE Fight Night 31, he’s confident that his steadiness under fire will be the deciding factor versus the Brazilian’s youthful aggression.
Zhang added:
“I think my most significant technical improvements are in my boxing skills, which are constantly improving. Also, my ground skills are something I maintain on a daily basis.
“More importantly, my mindset has been changing. Now, I am not as impatient as I was when I first started fighting. I am becoming more steady.”
