ONE Championship removes its lightweight MMA rankings, with Christian Lee return date uncertain
- Lee, who also holds welterweight MMA title, has not fought since the death of his 18-year-old sister Victoria Lee last December
- No 4-ranked Halil Amir reiterates calls for a title shot after recent TKO win in Bangkok, and wants American star Sage Northcutt
ONE Championship has removed its lightweight MMA rankings from its website, with a return date for the division’s champion Christian Lee still uncertain.
Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong had told the Post in June that Asia-based martial arts promotion ONE was looking to create an interim belt in Christian Lee’s absence. He said the 25-year-old American Canadian would “100 per cent” fight again in 2024.
But no fight to crown a new temporary champion has been made, despite a raft of contenders seemingly available and interested.
Former champion Ok Rae-yoon was placed at the No 1 spot before the removal of the rankings. The South Korean beat Lowen Tynanes in May at ONE’s on-ground US debut in Denver.
Saygid “Dagi” Arslanaliev (9-2) was ranked at No 2, but has not fought in MMA for nearly two years, recently losing a grappling match against new welterweight king Tye Ruotolo.
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Dagestan’s Saygid Izagakhmaev (22-2), a protégé of legendary former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, filled the third spot. He has three wins since debuting in ONE, but they all came in 2022.
No 4-ranked Halil Amir (10-0) of Turkey is the most active fighter in the division. He finished Ahmed Mujtaba in the first round of this month’s ONE Fight Night 17 card, for his third straight victory since debuting, and second win of 2023 after beating Maurice Abevi by decision in April.
With his hopes of a title shot fading, the undefeated 29-year-old called for a fight with American star Sage Northcutt – who beat Mujtaba in Denver – after his recent win in Bangkok.
“It doesn’t matter who, top five. I can fight with Sage Northcutt,” he told the Post, adding that he did not want to fight close friends Arslanaliev and Izagakhmaev.
“There’s no fights left for me in my opinion. The only fight I want to talk about should be a title fight at this point.
“My focus is the title, I don’t want an interim shot. That said, I am happy to fight any big names. I want Sage. I’m ready any time, one month, two months. I feel great and unless there’s an injury I’m ready to go.”
