‘That’s My Whole Life’ – Christian Lee Shares Balancing Act As Family Man, Gym Owner, World Champion
Reigning ONE Lightweight and Welterweight MMA World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee loves his life, even though it would probably overwhelm most people.
At just 27 years old, he takes care of a growing family while juggling management of a thriving gym and a career as one of the world’s most accomplished mixed martial artists.
Lee’s next challenge will arrive on Sunday, November 16, when he defends his lightweight gold against undefeated Turkish sensation Alibeg Rasulov in their World Title rematch at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
ONE Championship fans have witnessed Lee evolve from a 17-year-old debutant in 2015 to become the youngest-ever male MMA World Champion by 2019, when he dethroned legendary Japanese fighter Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki. He went on to capture lightweight and welterweight MMA gold, holding both belts simultaneously to become one of the sport’s most dominant forces.
But his professional career has taken a back seat in recent years. After the tragic passing of his younger sister Victoria in 2022, Lee focused on starting his own family with his high school sweetheart, Katie Allison.
The blessings kept coming, and his little family kept growing. Now, his fourth child is on the way.
He revealed:
“For me, family is everything. My wife and I have three kids, and I’ve got a fourth baby on the way. They’ve been keeping us busy, keeping us on our toes.
“We have another boy coming. We got one girl and then three boys.”
The joy is real, but so is the chaos. Three kids under one roof with a fourth arriving soon means more sleepless nights, endless energy, and a schedule that never stops.
Fatherhood has changed everything for “The Warrior.” The fighter who once lived and breathed fighting now finds his greatest fulfillment in small moments — mornings spent at home before training, quiet evenings after sessions, and the rhythm of a life built around his children.
Lee and his wife shared that vision from the beginning:
“It worked out great because I met my wife really early on, and then she wanted the same thing, so we always wanted a big family.
“Definitely, it’s hard, but it’s so rewarding. There’s also not much time in the day to stop and think about stuff, either. It definitely keeps me busy all day long, but I wouldn’t ask for any other way.”
This hectic pace leaves little room for downtime. Training, managing the gym, spending time with his kids — wash, rinse, and repeat. Every minute of his life is accounted for.
With his rematch against Rasulov at ONE 173 fast approaching, Lee’s focus will shift temporarily back to defending his gold as a two-division ONE World Champion. Training camp demands intense focus, but even then, his purpose remains clear — everything he does leads back to his family.
“The Warrior” said:
“That’s my whole life, really, is taking care of them, spending time with them. And now that I’m in camp, of course, it’s the training that’s the focus. But yeah, everything that I’ve been up to in the last four years is wrapped up in that, four babies.”
Lee Gives Credit To His Wife For Making Everything Possible
As if he didn’t have enough on his plate, Christian Lee has taken on another big responsibility.
In 2024, he rebranded the family gym as Prodigy Training Center in Waipahu, Hawaii. He now serves as head coach and mentor for aspiring young fighters, which includes guiding his younger brother and fellow ONE athlete Adrian “The Phenom” Lee through the professional ranks.
It’s a hectic schedule that demands precise time management. Lee’s days start before dawn and don’t end until evening classes wrap.
His mornings are dedicated to honing his own craft — grueling hours spent maintaining the championship form that has established his status as one of the best MMA fighters in the world.
By afternoon, he shifts into coaching mode, teaching back-to-back classes at the gym. Then it’s back home for family time and making dinner before the cycle begins again.
But Lee admits none of it would work without his wife, Katie. She manages the home front and keeps everything moving smoothly behind the scenes.
The 27-year-old explained:
“It’s a lot of things, for sure, managing the time. Thankfully, my wife is so supportive. She’s on the same page. Having that teamwork is really essential when dealing with the three kids. She helps me run the gym as well.”
The relentless pace would drain most people, but Lee is grateful for it. Everything he does centers on his family. They’re the reason he keeps fighting.
When the Singaporean-American superstar steps into the Circle at ONE 173 to defend his lightweight MMA throne, he’ll carry the weight of everything he’s built — his gym, his family, his legacy.
Lee offered:
“I’m grateful for what I have. I can’t complain. It’s a lot, but you can’t complain about having a lot. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. I’m trying to set up the future for my family.”
