ONE lightweight world champion Christian Lee is not satisfied with just one world title to his name. Therefore, he's going for two-division glory in his upcoming fight.
"The Warrior" will challenge ONE welterweight world champion Kiamrian Abbasov in the main event of ONE Fight Night 4 on Nov 19 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
He returns to the circle following his emphatic victory over Ok Rae-Yoon in August, which saw him reclaim the lightweight throne that he lost to South Korean sensation last year in a controversial loss.
Although he originally wanted to take some time to settle back into his position as world champion, the 24-year-old superstar could not turn down the chance to score a second strap.
"Well, initially, after claiming my title back, it sounded really nice to take some time off. But an opportunity like this is really just too big of a moment to let it just pass me by. And fighting for a second world title and a second weight division has always been a dream of mine since I started this sport," he said.
Lee faces stiff competition in his quest to join the elite group of athletes in ONE who have held belts in two different weight classes concurrently.
If he wants to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Martin Nguyen, Aung La N Sang, and Reinier de Ridder, "The Warrior" will first have to work his way past Abbasov's dangerous skill set.
The 29-year-old star has been electric in the welterweight division since a loss in his ONE debut back in 2018 lit a fire in his belly.
He has used his world-class grappling skills and heavy striking to take out the best the bracket has to offer, including Zebaztian Kadestam, who he defeated to earn the world title, and James Nakishima, who he last defended the strap against.
Lee is aware of Abbasov's talents. But instead of feeling intimidated, he believes his own arsenal will match nicely with his opponent's, leading to an entertaining battle for both and those watching.
"I think they chose a good fight to headline this card. Because Abbasov is an extremely talented fighter, I know that when he goes out there, he's always looking to finish his fights. And when I go there, I'm looking to finish my fights," he said.
"So regardless of the outcome, I know it's going to be an exciting fight for the fans."
