ONE Championship: Ok Rae targets Christian Lee despite first needing to beat Alibeg Rasulov
- The Korean is the last man to beat Lee in September 2021 but lost in their rematch 11 months later to relinquish the lightweight title
Ok Rae Yoon is already targeting a rematch with Christian Lee despite first having to overcome Alibeg Rasulov in a fight for the interim lightweight title at ONE Fight Night 23 on Saturday.
Ok was the last man to beat Lee in September 2021 but lost in their rematch 11 months later to relinquish the lightweight title.
Lee has only fought once since, which means Saturday’s fight will see an interim champion crowned.
Ok told the Post he was already looking beyond Rasulov and preparing for a trilogy with Lee.
“Settling the score is important,” the Korean said. “Don’t get me wrong, but I know Christian is champion in both lightweight and welterweight – he is the strongest.
“I need to beat him to prove to the world that I am stronger.
“It’s not that I want revenge, I only want to defeat him to cement my own legacy as the best in the world.”
Rasulov may be coming into this fight with an impressive 13-0 record, but Ok said nothing he had seen from Saturday’s opponent so far worried him.
“Undefeated doesn’t mean anything – I judge my opponent on skill alone,” he added. “I’ve watched his tapes and his opponents have not been not too different to other opponents I have faced.
“I have worked on my takedown defence and grappling to prepare for this fight.”
There had been reports recently that Ok was considering calling time on his career but the 33-year-old dismissed that suggestion.
“Even if I get the title I’m not looking to immediately retire,” he said. “If I was looking to do that I would have retired after I defeated Christian Lee to get the title.
“I’m still young and in good condition. I want to win the title and defend it multiple times to show that I’m the best in the division.”
