“I could feel him starting to break” - Christian Lee recalls final moments of first fight with unbeaten Alibeg Rasulov

Christian Lee believes he was on the verge of breaking his opponent until their first encounter ended in controversial fashion.

At ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri, the two-division king puts his ONE lightweight MMA world title on the line against undefeated Turkish bruiser Alibeg Rasulov in a rematch inside Tokyo's Ariake Arena on Sunday, November 16.

In an exclusive interview with ONE Championship ahead of their highly anticipated rematch, the 26-year-old Prodigy Training Center and Evolve MMA megastar reflected on the pivotal moments before their first fight ended in a no-contest at ONE Fight Night 26 this past December.

"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," Christian Lee said.

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"So when the initial eye poke happened, I was like, 'Okay, give him some time.' I thought he was just trying to get a breather. But when it was called off, I really felt like the victory was right there."

Christian Lee clearly heads into the rematch with unfinished business and the belief that he knows exactly how to dismantle the Turkish challenger.

The experience from their first encounter gives 'The Warrior' valuable insights into Rasulov's defensive capabilities and the adjustments needed to secure a definitive victory.

Their world title rematch promises to answer the questions left unresolved by their first meeting and determine whether Lee's instincts about his opponent's breaking point were accurate.

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Christian Lee on balancing duties as he chases MMA greatness

In the same interview with the promotion, Christian Lee opened up on how he's been able to balance between a demanding training schedule, leading his growing family, and running his gym alongside his wife, Katie Allison.

"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," the double champ shared.

Tickets for ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri can be secured here. Fans around the world can visit watch.onefc.com for how-to-watch details in their region.

Follow One Championship News, Schedule & Results at Sportskeeda.

Edited by Saiyed Adeem Karim