ONE lightweight and welterweight MMA world champion Christian Lee will defend his lightweight title against Alibeg Rasulov at ONE 173 on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 27-year-old two-division champ manages his fighting career alongside fatherhood to three children with a fourth on the way, plus ownership of Prodigy Training Center in Waipahu, Hawaii.
Lee made his promotional debut in 2015 at age 17 and became the youngest male ONE world champion in 2019 when he defeated Shinya Aoki for the lightweight title. He later captured welterweight gold and holds both championships simultaneously, establishing himself as one of the sport’s most dominant athletes.
His priorities shifted following the tragic death of his younger sister Victoria in 2022. Lee focused on starting a family with his high school sweetheart Katie Allison, and they now have three children with their fourth son arriving soon.
“For me, family is everything. My wife and I have three kids, and I’ve got a fourth baby on the way. They’ve been keeping us busy, keeping us on our toes. We have another boy coming. We got one girl and then three boys,” Lee said.
The couple planned for a large family from the beginning. The reality of managing three young children while maintaining a fighting career and running a gym creates a demanding daily schedule with little downtime.
“Definitely, it’s hard, but it’s so rewarding. There’s also not much time in the day to stop and think about stuff, either. It definitely keeps me busy all day long, but I wouldn’t ask for any other way,” Lee said.
Lee’s typical day starts before dawn with his own training sessions. By afternoon, he transitions to coaching duties at Prodigy Training Center, teaching back-to-back classes. Evenings focus on family time before the cycle repeats. He also mentors his younger brother Adrian Lee, who competes professionally in ONE Championship.
His rebranded gym in 2024 added another layer of responsibility to an already full schedule. Managing the facility while maintaining his fight career demands precise time management and unwavering discipline.
Katie Lee plays a crucial role in making the schedule work. She manages their home while also helping run the gym, providing the partnership that allows Christian to balance his multiple responsibilities.
“It’s a lot of things, for sure, managing the time. Thankfully, my wife is so supportive. She’s on the same page. Having that teamwork is really essential when dealing with the three kids. She helps me run the gym as well,” Lee said.
His upcoming title defense against Rasulov in their rematch requires intense training camp focus, but even then, everything connects back to his family and their future.
“I’m grateful for what I have. I can’t complain. It’s a lot, but you can’t complain about having a lot. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. I’m trying to set up the future for my family,” Lee said.
