ONE Championship newcomer Alibeg Rasulov isn't overly concerned with the accolades of Ok Rae Yoon. On Friday, July 5, Rasulov will step inside the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand for a main event clash with the former ONE lightweight MMA world champion at ONE Fight Night 23 on Prime Video.
Looking ahead to his first big challenge on martial arts' biggest global stage, Rasulov respects Ok's accomplishments but feels he's more than ready to take care of business against one of ONE's most formidable athletes.
"He’s a really good fighter, he’s experienced, he's an ex-champion, but, still, it doesn’t bother me," Rasulov told Sportskeeda MMA. "I am getting ready and I’m a good fighter too. I’m ready for this fight."
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Rasulov enters the fight with a perfect 14-0 record, including 10 finishes.
He'll look to keep that 'O' intact while also denying Ok Rae Yoon the possibility of becoming the ONE interim lightweight MMA world champion.
Alibeg Rasulov's hydration hiccup means he's ineligible to claim ONE gold
Originally, their highly anticipated clash inside the Mecca of Muay Thai was to crown an interim lightweight MMA champion, while undisputed titleholder Christian Lee continues to work toward his return.
However, Alibeg Rasulov failed his hydration test, forcing ONE Championship to renegotiate the bout as a catchweight clash.
The fight will move forward as scheduled, but as a result of Rasulov's miss, he will no longer be eligible to win the interim crown.
Ok Rae Yoon, on the other hand, is still eligible — meaning if he comes out on top against the Turkish standout, he will take the provisional 26 pounds of ONE gold back home to South Korea.
ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 23 live and for free via Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, July 5.