Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Ok Rae Yoon will try to start his redemption tour in Denver when ONE Championship arrives in the U.S. on May 5. After jumping onto the global stage, the South Korean quickly defeated former World Champions and grabbed the gold. But it was short-lived, as Christian Lee returned to knock him out last year.
Ok Rae Yoon Returns on May 5
But for Ok, it was a learning experience he needed. After facing off against Eddie Alvarez, Marat Gafurov, and Lee, the Team MAD star realized he has to always be at his best. That is why he has taken a slow road back to the Circle.
“The higher the level, the more I need to take care of my body. Before that, I competed at a level where even if you were in poor physical condition, you could cover it with your skills. But that night, I felt that even a tiny [detail] was crucial when competing with the best in the world,” Ok told ONE.
Ok is not expecting a quick path back to the title. After a decisive loss, the 32-year-old knows he will have to prove himself. His first chance comes against Lowen Tynanes at ONE Fight Night 10. The lightweight war will open up the historic event. If he can shine on Prime Video, he expects similar treatment that Lee got.
“First of all, since I lost the last match, I have to prove myself in the next match. I have to justify the next fight or two, and if I do that, I think I’m qualified, as Christian Lee did the rematch right away,” said the 32-year-old.
It will not be an easy road. The lightweight division is loaded with talent, including Tynanes, who only has one loss on his professional record. Ok is doing his due diligence to ensure he is prepared for what the American has to offer.
Ok Rae Yoon Looks to Handle The Hawaiian
The biggest attribute Ok has identified is Tynanes’ ground game. The South Korean has noticed his strength in the area and will try to combat that inside the 1stBank Center on May 5. However, Ok believes he is ready to shut the Hawaiian down.
“[Tynanes’] ability to control grappling is excellent, and he has great strength. He is a fighter who weaponizes this to force pressure. Then, he creates opportunities and fights his own style. However, I’ve been dealing with very strong grapplers, so I respect Lowen’s grappling, but I think I can handle him,” said the lightweight contender.
One of the biggest reasons for Ok’s confidence heading into the contest is his prior matches in ONE. He has already held the gold and defeated former champions. While he is not taking the challenge of Tynanes lightly, Ok does not believe he will see anything new at ONE Fight Night 10.
“Ever since I’ve started fighting in ONE Championship, I have fought against fighters with a style similar to Lowen Tynanes. Marat Gafurov, Eddie Alvarez, and Christian Lee all feel like they have better grappling compared to Lowen Tynanes’ grappling. So, I think there will be no problem as long as the performances in the previous matches can come out.”
Three bonus bouts kick off ONE Fight Night 10 at the 1stBank Center. The event begins across all ONE platforms at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Friday, May 5. The main card is live on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
