Christian Lee set for long-awaited ONE Championship return to face Alibeg Rasulov
- Lee, who is also welterweight champion, did not fight at all in 2023 as he took some time out
Christian Lee’s long-awaited return to ONE Championship has been confirmed after it was announced he would be defending his lightweight title at ONE 169 against Alibeg Rasulov.
Lee, who is also welterweight champion, did not fight at all in 2023 as he took some time out following the death of his younger sister, Victoria.
Lee holds a record of 17-4 and will be defending a belt he has won twice. He last suffered defeat in 2021 when lost his lightweight title to Korean fighter Ok Rae Yoon, but immediately regained it in their rematch.
A potential third fight has been billed but Ok lost to Rasulov last weekend, which made the Turkish-born, Russian fighter the No 1 contender in the lightweight division.
There was some concern over whether Rasulov would have been eligible to fight Lee for the title as failed weight and hydration tests prevented him from earning the interim belt with his win.
But the ONE Championship matchmakers decided this had to happen and it will take place in Atlanta on November 8.