Christian Lee’s long-awaited ONE Championship comeback ended in anticlimactic fashion after an unintentional eye poke left title challenger Alibeg Rasulov unable to continue in Saturday’s ONE Fight Night 26 main event in Bangkok.
Rasulov was struck in the eye late in the second round by the returning lightweight MMA champion at Lumpinee Stadium.
The decision was met with jeers by a frustrated crowd, with 26-year-old Canadian-born American Lee finally competing for the first time since November 2022.
Lee had taken some time away after the death of his younger sister Victoria at 18. He seemed raring to go but his big comeback was cut short.
“I was looking for a finish, and I do believe if the fight had continued I would have got the finish,” Lee told the Bangkok Post. “It’s unfortunate.
“I apologise to my opponent. I saw the replay and there was an eye poke. If he felt he couldn’t continue, that was the smart decision for him. I’m just disappointed I couldn't get the finish for everyone.”
Lee hinted he would be back in action in March, with his wife set to give birth soon to their third child.
But “The Warrior” could defend his other belt – ONE’s welterweight MMA title – instead of giving 32-year-old Rasulov of Turkey an immediate rematch.
“We’ll see what ONE Championship has in mind, what [CEO] Chatri [Sityodtong] wants to do,” Lee said. “There’s two divisions i'm running.
“If it’s not a rematch or new opponent at lightweight then I’ll be looking to defend at welterweight, so it doesn’t matter to me.”
Lee admitted he was “confused” when the fight was called off, and thought it would continue – but stopped short of suggesting Rasulov had taken the easy way out.
“Based on how the fight went and his condition at the point of the eye poke, I’m not surprised he chose to …,” Lee said, before pausing.
“I don’t want to disrespect my opponent, he was a very tough guy, But for me right now, I’m still ready to go. I could still keep fighting right now. I was ready to go out there and put on a show for everyone.”
Rasulov was struck in the eye late in the second round by the returning lightweight MMA champion at Lumpinee Stadium.
The decision was met with jeers by a frustrated crowd, with 26-year-old Canadian-born American Lee finally competing for the first time since November 2022.
Lee had taken some time away after the death of his younger sister Victoria at 18. He seemed raring to go but his big comeback was cut short.
“I was looking for a finish, and I do believe if the fight had continued I would have got the finish,” Lee told the Bangkok Post. “It’s unfortunate.
“I apologise to my opponent. I saw the replay and there was an eye poke. If he felt he couldn’t continue, that was the smart decision for him. I’m just disappointed I couldn't get the finish for everyone.”
Lee hinted he would be back in action in March, with his wife set to give birth soon to their third child.
But “The Warrior” could defend his other belt – ONE’s welterweight MMA title – instead of giving 32-year-old Rasulov of Turkey an immediate rematch.
“We’ll see what ONE Championship has in mind, what [CEO] Chatri [Sityodtong] wants to do,” Lee said. “There’s two divisions i'm running.
“If it’s not a rematch or new opponent at lightweight then I’ll be looking to defend at welterweight, so it doesn’t matter to me.”
Lee admitted he was “confused” when the fight was called off, and thought it would continue – but stopped short of suggesting Rasulov had taken the easy way out.
“Based on how the fight went and his condition at the point of the eye poke, I’m not surprised he chose to …,” Lee said, before pausing.
“I don’t want to disrespect my opponent, he was a very tough guy, But for me right now, I’m still ready to go. I could still keep fighting right now. I was ready to go out there and put on a show for everyone.”
