Ok Rae Yoon wants to reclaim ONE Lightweight Title, aims Lee rematch

08 July 2023

Ok Rae Yoon, the former ONE Lightweight World Champion and current number one contender, is determined to reclaim the 26-pound gold belt he once proudly wore.

His recent victory over Lowen Tynanes at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III on Prime Video in May brought him closer to his goal. The event, held in Denver, Colorado, marked ONE's historic debut in the United States, and Ok cherished the exhilarating experience of competing before a passionate, capacity crowd at the 1stBank Center. However, he faced challenges adjusting to the time zone and the high altitude of Colorado.

Ok was gracious enough to acknowledge Tynanes' improved striking skills, which complemented his already exceptional grappling abilities.

Although Ok Rae Yoon emerged victorious, he expressed a slight disappointment that the fight had to be decided by the judges. Despite his own dissatisfaction with his performance, the 32-year-old secured a crucial win at ONE Fight Night 10, solidifying his position as the leading contender in the lightweight division of MMA.

Naturally, he has set his sights on a World Title opportunity for his next bout.

However, the current reigning champion, Christian Lee, has been on hiatus since defeating Ok in their World Title rematch last August. Lee is mourning the tragic loss of his younger sister, Victoria Lee.

“I was always number 1, and I am still number 1. So I definitely should jump on to the next title fight. Christian Lee said he would return next year, and if there is an interim title bout before that, I think it’s right for me to do it, and it doesn’t matter who the next is,” he said in an interview with ONE Championship. 

While Ok would relish the chance to settle their rivalry in a grudge match, he understands if the titleholder requires more time before returning to the octagon. In that case, he is equally content with fighting for the interim championship.