“BJ Penn is a good example” - Christian Lee says fellow Hawaiian BJ Penn is an inspiration for Kiamrian Abbasov fight

Christian Lee is looking to another Hawaiian mixed martial arts legend for inspiration heading into his world title showdown with welterweight king Kiamrian Abbasov at ONE on Prime Video 4 on Friday night.

Emanating live from the familiar confines of Singapore Indoor Stadium, ONE Championship’s fourth event on Amazon Prime Video will be headlined by a champion vs. champion showcase. Lightweight titleholder Christian Lee goes for two-division glory against Kiamrian Abbasov, the promotion’s reigning and defending welterweight world champion.

Less than a week away from the highly-anticipated bout, Christian Lee appeared on the MMA Junkie podcast and discussed a fellow Hawaiian fighter that he looks to for inspiration as he goes for his second ONE world championship.

“BJ Penn is a good example. He didn't care if he was bigger or smaller. He just went in there and he fought. I have so much respect for the old-time fighters who would just go up and fight anyone no matter what weight they were. And that's kind of the same mindset that I'm taking into this fight.”

As a former champion in two separate weight classes, BJ Penn took on some of the biggest names in MMA history, including Matt Hughes, Georges St-Pierre, Lyoto Machida, and Nick Diaz.

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A chance to capture a second world title was too good to pass up for Christian Lee

On November 18th, Christian Lee will attempt to do what many fighters have tried and few have accomplished. Less than three months removed from reclaiming the ONE lightweight world championship, ‘The Warrior’ will seek a second world title.

When moving up or down a weight class, fighters take risks. Sometimes it could be walking into a fight undersized. Sometimes they sacrifice speed, strength, or stamina. In the worst of cases, all three. It is a risk Lee was willing to take for the opportunity to etch his name in the history books as not only one of the few men in ONE Championship to carry two world titles, but to be known as one of the pound-for-pound best in the world.

“This fight is a big opportunity for me, and I’m grateful that ONE Championship has allowed me to move up to welterweight and get a shot at the belt. Right now, I’m not really thinking of anything else than working as hard as I can to claim that title.”