“They’re the reason why I’m doing all of this” - Christian Lee says his family is his biggest motivation in stellar MMA career

Christian Lee knows he wouldn't have reached the unprecedented level he's in without the support of his family.

The reigning two-division MMA world champion said he'll always have his wife, Katie, and kids to think of when he defends the ONE lightweight MMA world title against Alibeg Rasulov at ONE Fight Night 26.

Lee's defense of his lightweight MMA throne goes down at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, US primetime.

In an interview with ONE Championship, Lee said his family is why he keeps fighting and training to become the best possible version of himself.

Christian Lee said:

"Whenever I'm not in the gym training or teaching classes, I'm at home with my family or they're here in the gym with me. Everything that I do, I try to include my family and we like to do everything together. It doesn't just help, it's everything, and my family is a part of this."

He added:

"My wife, she's been extremely supportive in my whole career, and we run this gym [Prodigy Training Center] together. They're the reason why I'm doing all of this, why I'm working hard, and working to defend my belt. It's all for them."

Lee, 26, has two children with his wife Katie, and they were present at the double champ's world title wins in 2022.

Katie was present when Lee regained the ONE lightweight MMA world title from Ok Rae Yoon at ONE 160, and she was also in attendance when her husband captured the vacant ONE welterweight MMA world title against Kiamrian Abbasov at ONE on Prime Video 4.

According to reports, Christian Lee's family will be by his side when he defends the ONE lightweight MMA world title against Rasulov this Friday in Bangkok.

ONE Fight Night 26 is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

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Christian Lee reveals the reason why he opened up a non-profit organization

Christian Lee is undoubtedly a busy man.

Apart from his MMA career, Lee reopened the family gym Prodigy Training Center where he and his fellow fighters could train.

Lee also opened his gym to students where they could train in martial arts after school for free.

He said in an interview with ONE Championship:

"I had another nonprofit business. I opened it up and called it Prodigy Community Center. The goal was to basically take kids from after school, who can’t afford training, and give them a place before the classes to do their homework, to hang out, and then to train in the classes for free."

Lee added:

"And then have a ride home if they can’t get picked up by their parents. That was the main thing that drove everything.”