Undefeated Turkish challenger Alibeg Rasulov has boldly declared his intention to finish reigning ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Christian Lee via submission while capturing the US$50,000 performance bonus when the pair clash in their highly anticipated rematch at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
The 32-year-old Dagestani wrestling specialist expressed confidence in his grappling prowess against the two-division champion, vowing to bring the lightweight gold back to his homeland.
Their first encounter ended controversially in December 2024 due to an accidental eye poke, leaving unfinished business between two elite lightweights who seek a definitive resolution.
Alibeg Rasulov Plotting Wrestling Dominance
The undefeated challenger outlined his strategic approach for dethroning Lee, emphasizing his intention to impose his suave wrestling game and control the pace from the opening bell. Rasulov made clear he won’t allow the Singaporean-American to dictate the fight’s tempo.
“Christian Lee is a very serious fighter and a champion in two divisions, so finishing him early is difficult. I plan to wrestle more, impose my wrestling, not let him be the aggressor, and generally take the lead myself,” Alibeg Rasulov explained.
The Dagestan native carries a perfect 14-0 (1 NC) professional record into this championship bout, having earned his original title shot with a clear-cut unanimous decision victory over former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Ok Rae Yoon in his promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 23 in July 2024.
Alibeg Rasulov Confident He Was Winning Before Eye Poke
Alibeg Rasulov believes the momentum had shifted in his favor before the unfortunate ending to their first meeting, suggesting the controversial no-contest prevented what would have been his coronation as champion. The challenger expressed confidence that his conditioning and pressure were breaking down the defending titleholder.
“In the last fight with Christian Lee, maybe I even lost the first round, but I already felt in the second round that I was starting to pressure, and he had gotten a bit tired. And if not for that eye poke, maybe I would have won the fight. Christian Lee can feel whatever he wants,” Alibeg Rasulov said.
The 27-year-old Lee brings a 17-4 (1 NC) career record into this title defense. What’s more, he is tied with Rodtang Jitmuangnon for most victories in ONE Championship history with 17 wins across 22 promotional appearances.
Challenger Dreams of Bringing Gold Home to Dagestan
Beyond personal glory, Rasulov expressed deeper motivations for capturing championship gold, emphasizing his desire to honor his coaches and homeland with ONE’s most prestigious lightweight prize. The fighter’s ambitions extend beyond simply winning to earning maximum recognition for his performance.
“I have everything I need to win this belt and take it home, to Dagestan. It would be ideal for me to finish with submission, and take the belt and the bonus. And more than anything, I dream of putting this belt on for my coaches,” Rasulov said.
The five-round title clash promises to deliver the definitive answer both fighters and fans have sought since their controversial first meeting. Lee seeks to silence critics and prove his dominance over the undefeated challenger, while Rasulov aims to maintain his perfect record and capture his first major world championship on the sport’s biggest stage.
In the United States and Canada, you can watch ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri live on pay-per-view exclusively on live.onefc.com at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on Saturday, November 15.
