Christian Lee stops Ok Rae Yoon at ONE 160
(James Goyder is the owner/editor of AsianMMA.com)
Christian Lee recaptured the featherweight title and avenged his controversial decision loss to Ok Rae Yoon at ONE 160. The Hawaiian needed less than two round to put away the Korean and become a champion for the second time.
In the first fight Lee started strongly but seemed to fade in the latter rounds. This time he was determined to finish the show and blitzed Yoon with kicks to the body and head in the opening round before dropping him with a right hand.
There was more of the same in the second stanza with Lee chipping at his opponent’s leg with a right low kick before dropping him with another right hand. This time he did not hesitate and attacked the Korean with knees to the head.
The onslaught was relentless and the referee had no choice but to stop in at the 1:00 mark to save the Korean from further punishment. Lee improves to 17-4 and becomes the featherweight champion for the second time while Yoon drops to 16-4.
In the co-main event Thanh Le put his featherweight title on the line against Tan Kai. The champion had stopped every single fighter he had faced in his ONE Championship career but found the challenger made of sterner stuff.
The fight finished with both men trading punches in the centre of the cage but it was the leg kicks of the Chinese fighter that had really made the difference. Tang succeeded in doing damage to his opponent’s lead leg without taking any serious punishment in the process.
It left the judges with an easy decision and all three of them scored the fight for Tang who improves to 14-2. His opponent drops to 14-3 after tasting defeat for the first time in his ONE Championship career.
ONE 160, Singapore, August 26th
Christian Lee def. Ok Rae Yoon via TKO (Knees) at 1:00 of R2
Tang Kai def. Thanh Le by Decision (Unanimous)
Muay Thai: Saemapetch Fairtex def. Rittewada Petchyindee via KO (Punch) at 1:35 of R2
Keanu Subba def. Amir Khan via KO (Punches) at 3:23 of R1
Martin Batur def. Paul Elliott via TKO (Punches and Elbows) at 3:32 of R1
Submission grappling: Tommy Langaker def. Renato Canuto via Decision (Unanimous)
Thales Nakassu def. Kantharaj Agasa via TKO (Punches) at 2:55 of R1