Christian Lee (fighter) explained

Christian Lee
Birth Name:Christian Seung Yong Lee
Native Name:李胜龙 (Li Shenglong)
이승용 (Lee Seung-yong)
Birth Date:21 June 1998
Birth Place:Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nickname:The Warrior
Residence:Waipahu, Hawaii, U.S.
Nationality:American and Canadian
Weight:1850NaN0
Reach:760NaN0
Style:Pankration, Taekwondo, BJJ, Muay Thai, Wrestling
Stance:Orthodox
Fighting Out Of:Tanjong Katong, Singapore
Team:Evolve MMA
United MMA
Relatives:Angela Lee (Sister)
Victoria Lee (Sister)
Rank: Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [1] [2]
Years Active:2015–present
Mma Kowin:12
Mma Subwin:4
Mma Decwin:1
Mma Subloss:1
Mma Decloss:2
Mma Dqloss:1
Sherdog:212247

Christian Lee (Chinese: 李胜龙, Korean: 이승용, born June 21, 1998) is a Canadian-born American mixed martial artist who competes in the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions of ONE Championship.[3] He is the current and two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion, as well as the current ONE Welterweight World Champion. Currently holding both belts simultaneously, Lee is the fourth two-division champion in ONE history and holds the promotion's records for most wins (17), most finishes (16), and most knockouts (12). He was also the winner of the 2019 ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix.

On May 17, 2019, Lee defeated Shinya Aoki to win the ONE Lightweight World Championship for the first time. With his older sister Angela already holding the ONE Atomweight World Championship, they became the first brother-sister pair of mixed martial arts world champions.[4] [5] Their younger sister Victoria was also a mixed martial artist.

Background

Born in Vancouver to a Chinese-Singaporean father and a South Korean-born Canadian mother, Lee moved to Hawaii when he was five years old. As both his parents are decorated martial artists, Lee started training in the sport from a young age. Lee's older sister Angela (born July 8, 1996, in Vancouver) is also an MMA fighter with ONE Championship[6] and his younger brother, Adrian (born in Waipahu), also trains in martial arts. Lee's younger sister Victoria, who was also a mixed martial artist signed to ONE, died in 2022 at the age of 18.

At the 2012 USA Pankration national championships, Lee won two national titles and one silver medal.[7] [8] He also won the World Championship in the MMA division at the 2012 World Pangration Athlima Federation Championships.[9] [10]

Mixed martial arts career

Lee trains out of United MMA in Waipahu, Hawaii and Evolve MMA in Singapore, alongside his teammate and sister, Angela and her husband (and also his brother-in-law), Bruno Pucci, who also competes in ONE Championship's bantamweight division.

Lee made his amateur debut in 2015 at Star Elite Cage Fighting, where he defeated Avery Sanchis via first-round submission.[11]

ONE Championship

ONE Championship

At the age of 17, Lee signed with ONE Championship and made his promotional debut at ONE Championship: Spirit of Champions on December 11, 2015, earning his first career win with a 29-second TKO of David Meak.[12]

Lee followed that up by submitting Mahmoud Deab Mohamed in the first round with a kimura at ONE Championship: Clash Of Heroes on January 29, 2016.[13]

On March 18, 2016, he earned another first-round win against Anthony Engelen at ONE Championship: Union of the Warriors with a TKO stoppage by punches and elbow in a catchweight bout.[14]

At ONE Championship: Ascent To Power on May 6, 2016, Lee improved to 4-0 when he submitted Cary Bullos in the opening round with a brabo choke.[15]

Lee continued his streak of first-round finishes when he stopped Rocky Batolbatol by TKO at ONE Championship: Kingdom Of Champions on May 27, 2016.[16]

In his next match on August 13, 2016, Lee suffered his first professional defeat to rising featherweight Martin Nguyen at ONE Championship: Heroes of the World, losing in the first-round via a guillotine choke.[17]

Lee rebounded by defeating Wan Jianping with a first-round TKO at ONE Championship: Kings of Destiny on April 21, 2017.[18]

For the first time in his career, Lee was pushed to three rounds before finally submitting Keanu Subba with an armbar at ONE Championship: Quest for Greatness on August 18, 2017.[19]

On December 9, 2017, at ONE Championship: Warriors of the World, Lee defeated former ONE Lightweight World Champion Kotetsu Boku in the first round by TKO.[20]

Lee submitted Kazunori Yokota in the second round at ONE Championship: Visions of Victory on March 9, 2018, to clinch his fourth straight win.[21]

ONE Featherweight Championship contender

After his strong run of performances, Lee would earn a title shot against ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin Nguyen at ONE Championship: Unstoppable Dreams on 18 May 2018.[22] Following a five-round back-and-forth battle, Lee would lose by a narrow split-decision, marking his second defeat to the Vietnamese-Australian featherweight.[23]

Lee dropped another match against Filipino Edward Kelly at ONE Championship: Beyond the Horizon on September 8, 2018, after he was disqualified under the promotion's global martial art ruleset.[24] During his takedown of Kelly, Lee was judged to have used an illegal belly-to-back suplex that caused Kelly to land on his head and neck.

He got back on the win sheet against former Pancrase Lightweight Champion Kazuki Tokudome in a 73 kg catchweight bout at ONE Championship: Heart of the Lion on 9 November 2018, defeating the Japanese fighter in the first-round via TKO.[25] The match was added to the card on short notice after his sister Angela Lee, who was scheduled to face Xiong Jing Nan for the ONE Strawweight Championship, was forced to pull out due to a back injury.[26]

In his anticipated rematch against Edward Kelly at ONE Championship: Eternal Glory on January 19, 2019, Lee stopped Kelly via first-round TKO and pushed his overall record to 14–3.[27]

ONE Lightweight Champion

Lee agreed to an open challenge for the title from ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki, issued in March 2019 just after Aoki had won the lightweight title himself.[28] [29] Lee, a featherweight, would be moving up a division in order to challenge for the belt.[30] On May 17, 2019, at ONE Championship: Enter The Dragon, Lee survived an armbar submission attempt to upset the Japanese grappling legend in the second-round via TKO finish and win his first mixed martial arts world title.[31] [32] His victory also made him the youngest ever male mixed martial arts world champion,[4] as well as the first ever brother-sister pair of world champions in the history of mixed martial arts, with his sister Angela Lee holding the ONE Atomweight Championship.[33]

On September 26, 2019, ONE Championship Chairman and founder Chatri Sityodtong announced that Lee had accepted an offer to serve as a late-notice replacement for the injured Eddie Alvarez in the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Final. The match would be against Turkish finalist Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev at ONE: Century – Part 1 on 13 October 2019, after initial replacement Filipino fighter Eduard Folayang had trouble with visa issues. The late insertion into the event would allow Lee to fight on the same card as his sister Angela Lee, who was defending her atomweight title that night.[34] [35] Lee would go on to win by unanimous decision, earning the ONE Lightweight Word Grand Prix Championship.[36]

In the first title defense, Lee faced Iuri Lapicus at ONE: Inside the Matrix on October 30, 2020.[37] After surviving an initial barrage, he won the fight in the first round by TKO via punches on the ground.[38]

In the second title defense, Lee faced Timofey Nastyukhin at ONE on TNT 2 on April 14, 2021.[39] He won the fight via TKO just over a minute into the first round.[40]

In the third title defense, Lee faced Ok Rae-yoon at ONE: Revolution on September 24, 2021.[41] Lee lost the fight by a unanimous decision.[42] [43] Due to the controversial nature of the decision, it was reviewed by the ONE Competition Committee which ultimately upheld the result.[44] [45]

The rematch between Lee and Ok for the ONE Lightweight World Championship took place on August 26, 2022, at ONE 160.[46] Lee recaptured the title after dropping Yoon in the second round and finishing him on the ground with knees.[47] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[48]

ONE Welterweight Champion

Lee moved up to 185 lbs and debuted at welterweight as he challenged for the ONE Welterweight World Championship against reigning champion Kiamrian Abbasov on November 18, 2022, at ONE on Prime Video 4.[49] At weigh-ins, Abbasov missed weight, coming in at 186.25 lbs, 1.25 pounds over the limit. Abbasov was stripped of the title and the bout proceeded at a catchweight with only Lee being able to win the title.[50] He won the fight via technical knockout in the fourth round.[51] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award,[52] and made Lee the fourth simultaneous two-division champion in ONE history.

Hiatus

Lee is on hiatus from competition due to the death of his sister, fellow-competitor, Victoria Lee, but has expressed commitment to continue fighting in the future.

Personal life

Lee holds American and Canadian citizenship.

Lee and his wife Katie had their first child in April 2021.[53]

Lee's older sister is fellow ONE World Champion Angela Lee, and his younger sister Victoria Lee made her successful professional MMA debut at the age of 16 on February 26, 2021.[54] On January 7, 2023, it was revealed by his sister Angela that Victoria had died on December 26, 2022, at the age of 18.[55] [56] On September 19, 2023, his sister Angela confessed that she had attempted suicide in 2017 and that their youngest sister, Victoria had taken her own life in December 2022.[57]

Championships and accomplishments

Pankration

Grappling

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

|Win|align=center|17–4|Kiamrian Abbasov|TKO (elbows and punches) |ONE on Prime Video 4||align=center|4|align=center|4:20|Kallang, Singapore||-|Win|align=center|16–4|Ok Rae-yoon |TKO (knees)|ONE 160||align=center|2|align=center|1:00|Kallang, Singapore||-| Loss| align=center|15–4| Ok Rae-yoon| Decision (unanimous) | ONE: Revolution| | align=center|5 | align=center|5:00|Kallang, Singapore|| |-| Win| align=center|15–3| Timofey Nastyukhin| TKO (punches)| ONE on TNT 2| | align=center|1| align=center|1:13| Kallang, Singapore| |-| Win| align=center|14–3| Iuri Lapicus| TKO (punches)| ONE: Inside the Matrix| | align=center|1| align=center|2:19| Kallang, Singapore| |-| Win| align=center|13–3| Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev| Decision (unanimous)| ONE: Century – Part 1| | align=center|3| align=center|5:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 12–3| Shinya Aoki| TKO (punches)| ONE: Enter The Dragon| || align=center| 2| align=center| 0:51| Kallang, Singapore| |-| Win| align=center| 11–3| Edward Kelly| TKO (punches)| ONE: Eternal Glory| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:53| Jakarta, Indonesia| |-| Win| align=center| 10–3| Kazuki Tokudome| TKO (punches)| ONE: Heart of the Lion| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:07| Kallang, Singapore| |-| Loss| align=center| 9–3| Edward Kelly| DQ (illegal suplex)| ONE: Beyond the Horizon| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:19| Shanghai, China| |-| Loss| align=center| 9–2| Martin Nguyen| Decision (split)| ONE: Unstoppable Dreams| | align=center| 5| align=center| 5:00| Kallang, Singapore| |-| Win| align=center| 9–1| Kazunori Yokota| Submission (guillotine choke)| ONE: Visions of Victory| | align=center| 2| align=center| 4:34| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia| |-| Win| align=center| 8–1| Kotetsu Boku| KO (slam)| ONE: Warriors of the World| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:24| Bangkok, Thailand| |-| Win| align=center| 7–1| Keanu Subba| Submission (triangle armbar)| ONE: Quest for Greatness| | align=center| 3| align=center| 1:11| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia| |-| Win| align=center| 6–1| Wan Jianping| TKO (elbows and punches)| ONE: Kings of Destiny| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:50| Pasay, Philippines| |-| Loss| align=center| 5–1| Martin Nguyen| Technical Submission (guillotine choke)| ONE: Heroes of the World| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:30| Macau, SAR, China| |-| Win| align=center| 5–0| Rocky Batolbatol| TKO (submission to punches)| ONE: Kingdom of Champions| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:14| Bangkok, Thailand| |-| Win| align=center| 4–0| Cary Bullos| Submission (brabo choke)| ONE: Ascent to Power| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:07| Kallang, Singapore| |-| Win| align=center| 3–0| Anthony Engelen| TKO (punches and elbows)| ONE: Union of Warriors| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:14| Yangon, Myanmar| |-| Win| align=center| 2–0| Mahmoud Deab Mohamed| Submission (kimura)| ONE: Clash of Heroes| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:20| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia| |-| Win| align=center| 1–0| David Meak| KO (punches)| ONE: Spirit of Champions| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:29| Pasay, Philippines| |-

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Christian Lee - Assistant Instructor, Evolve MMA . Evolve MMA . 24 November 2015 . 8 November 2019.
  2. Web site: ONE vs UFC? Christian Lee confident he can beat any lightweight — even Khabib . Jesse Holland. November 26, 2020. mmamania.com.
  3. Web site: Christian Lee Profile. Sherdog.
  4. News: Lee. David. MMA: Christian Lee beats Japan's Shinya Aoki to become One Championship's youngest world champion . The Straits Times. 17 May 2019.
  5. Web site: The Youngest MMA World Champions in History are Asian Siblings. 11 June 2020. NextShark. 26 July 2019.
  6. Web site: 2019-10-13. One Championship: Christian Lee steps out of sister Angela's shadow. 2020-06-14. South China Morning Post. en.
  7. Web site: Paz . Reagan . Continuing a legacy: The Lee siblings fight their way to gold at world pankration tournament . Trojan Times.
  8. Web site: Danilewicz . Jack . Mililani's Lee Ohana Keeping Alive Ancient Greek Combat . MidWeek. 26 April 2012 .
  9. Web site: United MMA Instructors . United MMA . 2019-11-08 . 2019-11-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191108082339/https://www.unitedmmahawaii.com/instructors . dead .
  10. Web site: 2012 World Pangration Championship . World Pangration Athlima Federation . 2019-11-08 . 2016-09-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160913021734/http://worldpangration.net/index.php/2011-08-15-07-10-58/89-results-1/94-2012-worldpangration-championship-results-agon . dead .
  11. Web site: SEC STAR ELITE CAGE FIGHTING . Sherdog.
  12. Web site: Knapp . Brian . Brandon Vera KOs Paul Cheng, Claims Inaugural One Championship Heavyweight Crown . Sherdog.
  13. Web site: Knapp . Brian . Ev Ting Guillotine Submits Eric Kelly in One Championship 'Clash of Heroes' Main Event . Sherdog.
  14. Web site: Knapp . Brian . Aung La N Sang Guillotines Mohamed Ali in One Championship 'Union of Warriors' Main Event . Sherdog.
  15. Web site: Knapp . Brian . Angela Lee Takes Atomweight Title in FOTY Contender at One Championship 42 . Sherdog.
  16. Web site: Icasiano . Nissi . ONE FC: Pinoy MMA bet Rocky Batolbatol yields to Christian Lee . Rappler. 28 May 2016 .
  17. Web site: Critchfield . Tristen . Adriano Moraes Submits Tilek Batyrov, Claims Interim 135-Pound Crown at One Championship 45 . Sherdog.
  18. Web site: MMA: Philippines' Eduard Folayang retains championship on home soil . ChannelNewsAsia . 2019-11-08 . 2019-11-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191108082347/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/eduard-folayang-retains-onechampionship-lightweight-on-home-soil-8782602 . dead .
  19. Web site: Christian Lee submits Keanu Subba in third round of featherweight battle . AsiaOne. 18 August 2017 .
  20. Web site: Nichols . Jake . Christian Lee stops Kotetsu Boku with an incredible slam KO . The Body Lock. 10 December 2017 .
  21. Web site: Christian Lee defeats Kazunori Yokota, makes history in Malaysia . Stadiumastro.
  22. Web site: Maralit . Kristina . Martin Nguyen makes quick ONE return in match vs. Christian Lee in Singapore . SnippetX . 11 April 2018 . 8 November 2019 . 2 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201202211328/http://www.snippetmedia.com/snippetx/?p=6786 . dead .
  23. Web site: Martin Nguyen edges Christian Lee at One: Unstoppable Dreams . FightNewsAustralia. 19 May 2018 .
  24. Web site: Carroll . Peter . ONE Championship results: Christian Lee DQ'd for spiking Edward Kelly on his head . MMA Fighting. 8 September 2018 .
  25. Web site: Christian Lee finishes former King of Pancrase Kazuki Tokudome . ASIAMMA . 2019-11-08 . 2019-11-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191108082335/https://asiamma.com/news-2/breaking-news/christian-lee-finishes-former-king-of-pancrase-kazuki-tokudome/ . dead .
  26. News: Anderson . Jay . Angela Lee Out of ONE Championship: Heart of the Lion . 11 June 2020 . Cageside Press . 4 November 2018.
  27. Web site: Giongco . Mark . ONE: Team Lakay's Edward Kelly stopped by Christian Lee in 1st round of rematch . Inquirer.net. 19 January 2019 .
  28. Web site: Shinya Aoki stares down Christian Lee in Singapore . ASIAMMA . 2019-11-08 . 2019-11-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191108082337/https://asiamma.com/promotions/one-fc/shinya-aoki-stares-down-christian-lee-in-singapore/ . dead .
  29. Web site: Jennings . Leon . Shinya Aoki Surprised By Surprised Reaction To Christian Lee Call Out . Asian Persuasion MMA.
  30. News: Honasan . Santino . ONE Championship: Shinya Aoki to defend LW title against Christian Lee, Sage Northcutt to make debut in Singapore . 11 June 2020 . . 5 April 2019.
  31. Web site: Cruz . Guilherme . Christian Lee survives armbar scare, knocks out Shinya Aoki to win ONE Championship title . MMA Fighting. 17 May 2019 .
  32. Web site: Atkin . Nick . One Championship: Christian Lee stuns Shinya Aoki to win lightweight title on night of huge shocks in Singapore . South China Morning Post. 17 May 2019 .
  33. News: Atkin . Nick . One Championship: Christian Lee stuns Shinya Aoki to win lightweight title on night of huge shocks in Singapore . 11 June 2020 . . 17 May 2019.
  34. Web site: Christian Lee replaces injured Eddie Alvarez in ONE lightweight World Grand Prix final . MMA Fighting. 26 September 2019 .
  35. News: Aziz . Sazali Abdul . MMA: Christian Lee replaces injured Eddie Alvarez in One Championship grand prix final in Tokyo . 11 June 2020 . . 30 September 2019.
  36. Web site: Tahilramani . Gaurav . Defeating Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev, Christian Lee became the ONE Lightweight Grand Prix champion . Live Sport Asia.
  37. Web site: Aung La Nsang faces Reinier de Ridder in one of four title fights at ONE: 'Inside the Matrix'. asianmma.com. October 5, 2020.
  38. Web site: ONE: Inside the Matrix — Christian Lee Serves Up First Defeat for Iuri Lapicus. cagesidepress. October 30, 2020.
  39. Web site: ONE Championship to debut live primetime event series on TNT on April 7 following AEW wrestling. Damon Martin. January 27, 2021. mmafighting.com.
  40. Web site: admincsp. 2021-04-14. ONE on TNT II: Christian Lee Notches Another Title Defense, Stops Timofey Nastyukhin. 2021-04-15. Cageside Press. en-US.
  41. Web site: Christian Lee defends lightweight title against Ok Rae Yoon to headline ONE Championship card on Sept. 24. Damon Martin. August 17, 2021. mmafighting.com.
  42. Web site: MMA Junkie Staff . ONE Championship: Revolution results – Rae Yoon Ok stuns Christian Lee to win title, Lee calls 'bullsh*t' on decision . mmajunkie.usatoday.com . 24 September 2021 . 24 September 2021.
  43. Web site: 2021-09-24. Controversy! Did Ok Rae Yoon deserve to beat Christian Lee? Asian MMA. 2021-09-24. AsianMMA. en.
  44. Web site: Ex-ONE champ Christian Lee wants decision loss to Rae Yoon Ok overturned: 'I beat my opponent in every category'. Farah Hannoun. September 28, 2021. MMAjunkie.com.
  45. Web site: No justice for Christian Lee! ONE Championship upholds decision . October 1, 2021. asianmma.com.
  46. Web site: MMA Junkie Staff . 2022-07-07 . Rae Yoon Ok vs. Christian Lee rematch set for ONE Championship 160 main event . 2022-07-09 . mmajunkie.usatoday.com.
  47. Web site: Dewar . Val . 2022-08-26 . Christian Lee Recaptures ONE Championship Lightweight Title with Devastating Knockout . 2022-08-26 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  48. Web site: Who went home $50,000 richer at ONE 160? Fight bonus winners. sportskeeda.com. Vince Richards. 2022-08-26. 2022-08-26.
  49. Web site: Martin . Damon . 2022-09-28 . Christian Lee faces Kiamrian Abbasov in champ vs. champ fight to headline ONE on Prime Video 4 . 2022-09-28 . MMA Fighting . en.
  50. Web site: Martin . Damon . 2022-09-28 . Kiamrian Abbasov stripped of welterweight title after missing weight ahead of ONE on Prime Video 4 . 2022-11-17 . MMA Fighting . en.
  51. Web site: ONE on Prime Video 4: Christian Lee Survives Early Near-Finish, Rallies Back to Claim Second Belt. Cageside Press. Jay Anderson. 2022-11-19. 2022-11-19.
  52. Web site: Lee, Alexandre, Kelly Take Home $50K Performance Bonuses At ONE On Prime Video 4. ONE Championship – The Home of Martial Arts. Ben Coate. 2022-11-19. 2022-11-19.
  53. Web site: Instagram . 2023-10-06 . www.instagram.com.
  54. Web site: 16 Year-Old Victoria Lee Wins Her ONE FC MMA Debut by Submission. 28 February 2021.
  55. News: Atkin . Nicholas . Taylor . Tom . 8 January 2023 . ONE Championship's Victoria Lee dies at 18 years old. . South China Morning Post . 7 January 2023.
  56. Web site: ONE Championship rising star Victoria Lee dead at 18. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2023-01-07. 2023-01-07.
  57. Web site: 2023-09-19 . Resilient By Angela Lee . 2023-10-07 . The Players' Tribune . en-US.
  58. Web site: 2012 World Pangration Championship results . World Pangration Athlima Federation . 2019-11-08 . 2016-09-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160913021734/http://worldpangration.net/index.php/2011-08-15-07-10-58/89-results-1/94-2012-worldpangration-championship-results-agon . dead .
  59. Web site: USA Pankration National Championships . FightLeague . 2019-11-08 . 2019-11-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191108082337/https://fightleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2011_USA_National_Championships.pdf . dead .
  60. Web site: USFL Pankration . 2021-05-02 . 2021-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210502090541/https://fightleague.org/previous-events/ . dead .
  61. https://trojantimes.org/5400/archive/victorious-lee-continues-win-streak-at-usfl-pankration-nationals/ Trojan Times
  62. Web site: ONE Championship Double Champion Christian Lee Calls Out Islam Makhachev For Cross-Promotion Superfight. Verdict MMA. 2022-11-20. 2023-04-29.
  63. Web site: United MMA Hawaii . 2021-04-30 . 2021-04-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210430212736/https://www.unitedmmahawaii.com/coaches.html . dead .
  64. https://evolve-university.com/instructors/christian-lee/ Evolve University

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