The long wait is finally over as two-division king Christian Lee is set to make his much-awaited return at ONE Championship’s second show in the United States this year. 

At ONE 169: Atlanta in U.S. primetime on Friday, November 8, “The Warrior” is going to defend his ONE Lightweight MMA World Title against undefeated Alibeg Rasulov inside State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Christian Lee returning to action after two years

This means that the event now has three World Titles on the line. It was earlier announced that the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title will be defended by Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin against Senegalese powerhouse “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane, while Tawanchai PK Saenchai defends his belt for a second time against “Smokin’” Jo Nattawut. 

The latest addition to the card is a huge one as Lee has not seen action for close to two years. The Singaporean fighter and his whole family took a step back from the spotlight to mourn the loss of their beloved Victoria “The Prodigy” Lee at the end of 2022.

Since then, Lee has focused on healing and taking care of his growing family. However, it appears his competitive nature is not yet satiated. 

Last month, he cornered his youngest brother, Adrian Lee, in his professional debut at ONE 167 against Antonio Mammarella. Following his brother’s win, Christian went on to express his desire to return to action once there is a clear contender for any of his belts.

Why Alibeg Rasulov is getting a bout against Lee?

At ONE Fight Night 23 earlier this month, promotional newcomer Alibeg Rasulov made a case for himself by defeating former titleholder Ok Rae Yoon in a five-round contest. 

The win could have crowned Rasulov with the interim belt, but the Turkish fighter was unable to pass the hydration test on time, making him ineligible to win the gold. 

Nevertheless, he still gets a shot at Lee because of his big win against the only guy who beat the 26-year-old since 2018 – the South Korean, Ok. 

Rasulov used his relentless pressure to overpower the former champ and dropped close-ranged strikes throughout their contest to secure a unanimous decision victory when the smoke cleared. 

With a clear contender emerging for the lightweight MMA belt, Lee’s return was only a matter of time. Fans should watch out to see who will bring home the gold at ONE 169: Atlanta, and if “The Warrior” could pick up where he left off. 

All the action will be broadcast to over 190 countries around the world, but if you want to experience it live, you can buy your tickets here.