Reigning ONE Lightweight and Welterweight MMA World Champion Christian Lee has reflected on his frustrating no contest against undefeated Turkish contender Alibeg Rasulov. However, he also boldly predicted a first-round submission victory in their highly anticipated rematch at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
The 27-year-old two-division champion believes he was on the verge of a win when an accidental eye poke forced the December 2024 title fight to be ruled a no-contest in the second round at ONE Fight Night 26.
Christian Lee enters the rematch with 17 victories in ONE Championship, tied for the most wins in promotional history, while Rasulov brings his perfect 14-0 professional record into this definitive lightweight title clash.
Christian Lee Believed Victory Was Within Reach Before Eye Poke
The Singaporean-American revealed his perspective on the controversial ending to their first encounter, expressing initial skepticism about the severity of the injury before ultimately accepting the no contest result. Lee acknowledged landing significant strikes before the accidental eye poke halted the action.
“In the moment, it really felt like he came out prepared. I landed some good shots on him. So when the initial eye poke happened, I was like, ‘Okay, give him some time.’ I thought he was just trying to get a breather. But when it was called off, I really felt like the victory was right there,” Christian Lee said.
The Prodigy Training Center representative made his ONE Championship debut at age 17 in 2015, beginning a legendary career that saw him become the youngest-ever male MMA World Champion in history by knocking out Japanese icon Shinya Aoki in 2019. Lee added the welterweight belt to his collection by defeating Kiamrian Abbasov in November 2022, establishing himself as one of the promotion’s most accomplished champions.
Two-Division King Predicts Dominant Submission Finish
Christian Lee wasted no time outlining his game plan and prediction for the rematch, expressing supreme confidence in his ability to secure an early submission victory. The champion’s bold forecast demonstrates his belief that the first fight revealed tactical advantages he plans to exploit.
“I plan on going in there and wasting no time. I see it ending in a few different ways, but if I could just stay straightforward, I think that I’ll take him down, and I’ll submit him within the first five minutes,” Christian Lee predicted.
The aggressive approach suggests Lee intends to immediately test Rasulov’s grappling credentials despite the Turkish contender’s reputation for Dagestani wrestling excellence. The 32-year-old challenger captured his title shot by defeating former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Ok Rae Yoon via unanimous decision in his promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 23 in July 2024.
American Superstar Christian Lee Expects Rasulov Overwhelmed
Despite acknowledging his opponent’s preparation and readiness, Lee expressed unwavering belief that the championship moment will prove too overwhelming for the undefeated challenger. The two-division king predicted a dominant performance that leaves no doubt about the division’s rightful champion.
“I think he’s going to come out prepared. I think he’s going to come out ready to fight. But, at the end of the night, I don’t think he’s going to know what happened. I think that it’s going to be too much for him, and I’m going to get the job done,” Christian Lee said.
The champion’s 17-4 career record includes 16 finishes, demonstrating his ability to end fights in spectacular fashion. Christian Lee comes from a renowned family of martial artists, with siblings Angela and Adrian Lee also establishing themselves as elite competitors under the ONE Championship banner. ONE 173 takes place on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
