Christian Lee will make his long-awaited return to the ONE Championship Circle on Friday, November 8, at ONE 169: Atlanta. The ONE Lightweight and Welterweight MMA World Champion will defend the lightweight gold against Alibeg Rasulov at the State Farm Arena.
Since his welterweight title victory in November 2022, Lee has been out of action. A winner in eight of his last nine matches, Lee has surged to claim two-division gold by honoring his family mantra of finishing matches as quickly as possible.
But the Turkey-based athlete will be hoping to spoil the party.
Rasulov made his ONE debut at ONE Fight Night 23 with a unanimous decision win over Ok Rae Yoon. By defeating the former divisional king, the Russian earned his spot at the top of the division to challenge Lee.
The 31-year-old has enjoyed success since moving to Turkey and joining Hyperion Fighters. However, Lee will mark the stiffest test in his career.
The Prodigy Training Center star has been one of the faces of ONE, and as he has matured, he has only gotten more dangerous with his skill set.
The explosive lightweight title match is the third World Championship battle on the ONE 169 lineup. It joins ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion Anatoly Malykhin vs. “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane and the trilogy bout between ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai and “Smokin” Jo Nattawut.
ONE 169: Atlanta airs live from the State Farm Arena on Friday, November 8, on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.