"The biggest comeback story" - Chatri Sityodtong on Christian Lee's return to action in ONE Fight Night 26 headliner
Two-division MMA world champion Christian Lee's return to action was moved to headline ONE Fight Night 26 on December 6 to give him the spotlight he deserves.
ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong explained the decision to reschedule the 26-year-old's lightweight world title defense — originally slated to be part of one of four world title bouts during last week's ONE 169 — to Bangkok Post's Nick Atkin before the promotion's massive double-header weekend inside the legendary Lumpinee Stadium.
The lifelong martial artist said:
"We're putting more focus on Christian Lee as a main event comeback because it's so huge.
“It’s probably one of the biggest stories of the year, certainly the biggest comeback story of the year for sure. It may be the biggest comeback story full stop in the history of ONE Championship.”
'The Warrior' last fought on the global stage in a masterful TKO win over Kiamran Abbasov, which secured him the ONE welterweight world title at ONE on Prime Video 4.
Just three months before he attained double champ status in the world's largest martial arts organization, the Evolve MMA and Prodigy Training Center athlete reclaimed his lightweight crown with another highlight-reel finish in a rematch alongside Ok Rae Yoon.
Lee's upcoming lightweight world title defense against undefeated Turkish standout Alibeg Rasulov (14-0) will headline ONE Fight Night 26, the promotion's final Prime Video showcase of the year, inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The card will be available live in U.S. primetime for free to active Amazon Prime Video subscribers in North America on Friday, December 6.
Adrian Lee 'excited' to witness elder bro and two-division king Christian Lee return
Meanwhile, Adrian Lee, who has left a lasting impression across two fights under the ONE banner, is growing impatient to see his elder brother continue where he had left off at ONE Fight Night 26.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated previously, the young prodigy had this to say on Christian Lee's hotly anticipated return:
"I'm so excited for my brother to make his comeback. I think a lot of people have been overlooking him just because he's been out, but I'm really excited for him to shock the world."
The 18-year-old phenom, the youngest of the Lee siblings, registered his first pro-MMA win with a second-round submission win over Antonio Mammarella at ONE 167 this past June.
He followed up his emphatic promotional bow with another tapout win over Nico Cornejo at ONE 168: Denver in September.