The Singaporean-American kingpin needed just 2:32 of the second round to demolish the undefeated Dagestani wrestling specialist via TKO, securing his 17th career win in 18 as he defended his lightweight throne.
Christian Lee highlighted how ONE’s award of knees to grounded opponents proved decisive in his title defense, demonstrating the effectiveness of the promotion’s full combat sports approach.
Lightweight king Christian Lee defends takedowns and unleashes a ground attack
Lee showed exceptional takedown defense throughout the opening round and early parts of the second frame, repeatedly stuffing Rasulov’s attempts to impose his elite Dagestani wrestling skills.
The final sequence came when Rasulov attempted another takedown and “The Warrior” was perfectly sprawled, immediately securing a D’Arce choke before transitioning into a brutal barrage of ground knees that forced a referee to stop.
The technical excellence and finishing instincts once again proved why Lee remains one of ONE Championship’s most dangerous MMA fighters across multiple weight classes.
Christian Lee celebrates ONE’s complete martial arts philosophy
Speaking about his finish at the post-event press conference, Lee highlighted how ONE Championship’s Global MMA Rule Set allows fighters to demonstrate true martial arts mastery by removing limitations that exist in other organizations. The champion expressed his deep appreciation for the organization’s approach to determining the best fighters in the world.
“I love the ONE Championship ruleset. I think kneeling in front of an opponent on the ground is MMA in the purest sense of the word. The sport is designed to find out who is the best fighter in the world in any discipline,” the Singaporean-American explained.
The two-division king explained how ONE’s complete martial arts philosophy allows him to fully express his skills without arbitrary restrictions that compromise the authenticity of the competition.
“I believe that with mixed martial arts you can prove that you are the best fighter in the world. And with martial arts, with the ONE Championship rules, I can apply that perfectly, so I’m very grateful for it,” Lee added.
Christian Lee Eyes welterweight title defense next
Looking ahead, Christian Lee confirmed his intention to remain active in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions, pending clarity on his next challenger. “The Warrior” showed particular interest in defending his welterweight crown as he continues to build his legacy as one of ONE Championship’s premier competitors.
“I’ll stay active in both divisions. And once I know who the clear contender is, I’ll get ready for that division. I have my eyes on the welterweight division and right now I’m waiting to see who the next opponent is,” Lee said.
The dominant win over Rasulov extends Lee’s championship reign while cementing his status as one of the most complete mixed martial artists competing today. With 17 finishes in 18 career victories, the Singaporean-American continues to prove why he is among the elite title holders in two divisions of ONE Championship.
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