On 6 July 2024, ONE Championship, an internationally renowned sports IP, will bring fans "ONE: PINNACLE Series 23." The main event of the day will feature an interim lightweight mixed martial arts world title between former ONE Lightweight World Champion Ok Rae Yoon of South Korea and 14-bout undefeated Turkish sensation Alibeg Rasulov, with the winner of the two getting a chance to square off against ONE Lightweight Mixed Martial Arts World Champion Christian "The Warrior" Lee.
In 2021, Ok won the World Title shot by defeating two legendary fighters, former featherweight king Marat "Cobra" Gafurov and "The Underground King" Eddie Alvarez, in a row. In "ONE: GROUNDBREAK," Ok defeated Christian Lee in five rounds with his excellent takedown resistance and precise punching to become a World Champion, earning him the title of "Legendary Killer" and the title of Men's Mixed Martial Arts Fighter of the Year. Unfortunately, Ok failed to successfully defend his title, and was avenged by Christian Warrior Lee by TKO in his rematch with Christian Lee. But after that, Lee never defended the lightweight belt again, and in December 2022, Lee retired from the ring after the death of his 18-year-old sister Victoria Lee.
Despite the champion's absence, Ok has been trying to get back to the top of the list. In May 2023, "ONE: Pinnacle Series 10" Ok Yoon cemented his position as the top challenger in the lightweight division by defeating American native Lowen Tynanes in three rounds at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. The only obstacle in front of him now is the undefeated Rasulov, who will claim the Interim Lightweight Mixed Martial Arts World Title and a trilogy bout with Lee.
Rasulov may be making his ONE debut he owns a perfect 14-0 professional record and possesses strong grappling and ground skills that will give him the strength to take on Ok. "I'm very excited to get the chance to compete for the interim title. I wasn't stressed at all. My goal in ONE Championship is to become a very dominant champion. Ok is a former champion, a good striker, and I was very happy when I heard his name. I believe this will be my time. He wants to fight on the feet, I'm a wrestler, I'm going to play with my rhythm, it's going to be a lot of fun, I'm ready! ”
Ok: "Rasulov is a strong and fearsome opponent, 14-0. I'm studying him carefully and preparing him accordingly. He's never tasted defeat in a professional game before and is a talented wrestler. I want to play to my striking strengths, I'm always trying to improve my takedown and striking skills, and we all want to play to our strengths. ONE allows ground knees, and if he wants to dive me, I'll use my knees to make him pay and then knock him out. ”
A top striker faces an undefeated wrestler, who do you think will win the interim belt?