5 Reasons To Be Excited For Lee Vs. Rasulov At ONE 169: Atlanta
ONE’s hotly anticipated debut event in Atlanta just got even bigger with the addition of an MMA World Title clash guaranteed to produce fireworks.
On November 8 at ONE 169: Atlanta, two-division kingpin Christian “The Warrior” Lee will put his ONE Lightweight MMA World Title on the line against undefeated Turkish sensation Alibeg Rasulov.
Set to go down in front of a wild Georgia crowd at State Farm Arena, this high-stakes battle has all the makings of a barnburner – and represents the pinnacle of the sport.
Here are five reasons why this matchup is a can’t-miss event.
#1 The Champion’s Long-Awaited Return
A veteran of 21 battles in ONE Championship, “The Warrior” is coming off the longest layoff of his nine-year professional career in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Lee last fought in November 2022 when he scored a stunning victory over Kiamrian Abbasov to claim the ONE Welterweight MMA World Title and become a two-division king.
Over the course of his ONE tenure, the 26-year-old has established himself as one of the sport’s most active World Champions. Now that he’s been on the sidelines for nearly two years, fans are dying to see him back in action and doing what he does best.
#2 Rasulov Has Never Tasted Defeat
Rasulov certainly has the skills to spoil the World Champion’s return.
The 31-year-old Turk made his ONE debut on July 5 at ONE Fight Night 23 with a pristine 13-0 record and left with it still unblemished – in addition to a coveted shot at gold.
That night, Rasulov was slated to battle former lightweight MMA king Ok Rae Yoon for the interim lightweight MMA crown, but he failed to pass his hydration test and was ineligible for the belt.
However, the debutant performed beautifully against the respected South Korean, smothering him with a ruthless clinch game that left the former World Champion battered and beaten.
He’ll now look to remain unbeaten and announce himself as the planet’s best lightweight in his toughest test yet.
#3 An Intriguing Clash Of Elite Grapplers
While both athletes are well-rounded mixed martial artists, they do some of their best work in the grappling department.
Lee is perhaps best known for his show-stopping power and knockouts, but as a former Hawaii State Wrestling Champion and a lifelong student of MMA, “The Warrior” has proven to be a talented takedown artist and a punishing top-position grappler.
Rasulov, meanwhile, has sharpened his elite takedowns and suffocating top control in Dagestan, home to the planet’s most feared grapplers.
Simply put, this fight has the recipe for plenty of quality grappling exchanges.
#4 Will Rust Be A Factor For Lee?
Given his time out of action, Lee has many fans wondering if he’ll need time to adjust at ONE 169.
Despite the layoff, “The Warrior” is a consummate professional and will surely do everything he can to prepare for the serious challenge. Still, no amount of training can replace time in the Circle.
If rust does affect Lee, the belt could be changing hands.
#5 Both Men Want To Impress In The U.S.
Notably, both the World Champion and the challenger will be making their North American debuts, and each is surely excited to put on a show for American fans.
As a two-division ONE World Champion, Lee has cemented himself as a global superstar and can likely look forward to a hero’s welcome in Atlanta – giving him extra motivation to deliver.
Rasulov, meanwhile, knows he could gain legions of new followers if he takes out “The Warrior” in spectacular fashion and earns 26 pounds of gold in his U.S. debut.
