Their initial meeting at ONE Fight Night 26 last December ended in frustration when Lee’s inadvertent eye poke left Rasulov unable to continue. The 27-year-old Singaporean-American believed he was gaining momentum when the contest was stopped, and his extensive film study since has only reinforced that assessment.
“In the moment, it really felt like he came out prepared. I landed some good shots on him. He was able to defend the takedowns really well. And then, I felt a shift. I felt like the momentum was really starting to go my way, and I could feel him starting to break,” Lee said.
Lee co-holds the ONE Championship record for most victories alongside Rodtang Jitmuangnon with 17 wins. His 17-4 promotional record includes 16 finishes, establishing him as one of the organization’s most dangerous and accomplished athletes across two weight divisions.
The first Rasulov fight marked Lee’s return after a two-year layoff, his longest period of inactivity since debuting as a 17-year-old in 2015. He acknowledges that ring rust affected his performance, but the experience provided valuable insights for their rematch.
Lee has made a bold prediction for how their second meeting will unfold. Rather than expecting a tactical chess match with the elite grappler, the champion envisions an early submission finish.
“I think I’m gonna just take him down and submit him in the first round. I plan on going in there and wasting no time. I see it ending in a few different ways, but if I could just stay straightforward, I think that I’ll take him down, and I’ll submit him within the first five minutes,” Lee said.
The prediction carries weight given Rasulov’s credentials. The 32-year-old Turkish fighter brings a perfect 14-0 record and Dagestani wrestling pedigree that has made him one of the lightweight division’s most dangerous contenders. He earned his title shot by defeating former champion Ok Rae Yoon via unanimous decision at ONE Fight Night 23 in July 2024.
Rasulov’s grappling background features powerful takedowns and suffocating pressure that has overwhelmed previous opponents. His undefeated record also reflects consistent dominance, making Lee’s first-round submission prediction particularly ambitious.
“My camp has just been a lot of work improving everything. I set up a strict training regimen for myself, and I cover striking, I cover wrestling, I cover the grappling. What I’ve been doing works. I just feel like I’m making small changes to train smarter, like adding more recovery to my routine,” Lee said.
“I think he’s going to come out prepared. I think he’s going to come out ready to fight. But, at the end of the night, I don’t think he’s going to know what happened. I think that it’s going to be too much for him, and I’m going to get the job done.”
