Christian Lee To Defend Lightweight MMA Title Against Alibeg Rasulov At ONE 169

Christian "The Warrior" Lee is set to return to ONE Championship after a long break. He will compete in a high-stakes lightweight match at ONE 169: Atlanta in Georgia later this year.

On Saturday, 9 November, Lee will step into the Circle at Atlanta's State Farm Arena. He will defend his ONE Lightweight MMA World Title against top contender Alibeg Rasulov in a major showdown live in U.S. primetime.

Lee hasn't fought since November 2022 when he dethroned former ONE Welterweight MMA World Champion Kiamrian Abbasov at ONE on Prime Video 4. The 26-year-old took a break from competition after the tragic loss of his younger sister Victoria Lee one month later.

While Lee was away, Alibeg Rasulov emerged as a new threat. The Turkish star made his promotional debut on 6 July at ONE Fight Night 23 against Ok Rae Yoon. He outclassed the former lightweight king over five rounds in Bangkok, Thailand's Lumpinee Stadium.

The bout was initially set for the ONE Interim Lightweight MMA World Title. However, Rasulov failed to pass hydration and make weight before the official time window, making him ineligible to win the belt even if victorious.

Lee's Impressive Record

Despite his absence, Lee holds the record for most victories in ONE Championship history with 17 wins and most stoppages with 16. The Hawaiian has won eight of his last nine bouts inside the Circle, with seven of those victories coming by TKO.

Lee reclaimed the ONE Lightweight MMA World Championship after avenging an earlier loss to Ok Rae Yoon in August 2022 at ONE 160. In their rematch, he stopped the stern South Korean in the second frame to reclaim the gold.

Rasulov's Unbeaten Streak

Rasulov boasts an impressive record of 14-0 with 10 stoppages - six by knockout and four by submission. His aggressive skill set and unrelenting pressure allowed him to overcome Ok by unanimous decision and earn the top spot to face Lee this November.

The Hyperion Fighters product aims to shock the world by giving a fellow revered finisher an early night at ONE 169: Atlanta.

Other Exciting Matches

On the same night, fans can also witness three-weight king Anatoly Malykhin defend his ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title against "Reug Reug" Oumar Kane. Additionally, Tawanchai PK Saenchai will defend his ONE featherweight Muay Thai crown against hometown favorite Jo Nattawut in a huge trilogy match.

"The Warrior" is ready to pick up where he left off, starting with defending his lightweight crown. Despite facing personal tragedy, Lee remains determined to continue his successful career in MMA.