'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
ONE Fight Night 23 will see a new world champion crowned, and it's a matchup that is as interesting as any.
Ok Rae Yoon will face Alibeg Rasulov in the card's main event for the ONE interim lightweight MMA world title on Friday, US primetime, at the historic Lumpinee Stadium.
The South Korean brawler is a former ONE lightweight MMA world champion after he stunned the great Christian Lee via unanimous decision at ONE: Revolution in September 2021.
Hellbent on returning to the throne he once sat on, Ok will stop at nothing to claim the interim strap in Bangkok.
Trending
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Standing in front of him is the undefeated Rasulov.
The Turkish standout is a perfect 14-0 in his professional career, and he'll be at the precipice of greatness if he beats Ok in his ONE Championship debut.
Before these two lightweight stars batter each other, Sportskeeda MMA's ONE Championship team put together their unbiased opinions and gave their honest predictions for ONE Fight Night 23's headliner.
ONE Fight Night 23, just like all of ONE Championship's Amazon cards, is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.
James De Rozario: Ok Rae Yoon via knockout
Ok Rae Yoon's excellence in all facets of the game has been instrumental throughout his career. And he'll be needing that if he wants to overcome a rather one-dimensional yet dangerous Alibeg Rasulov at ONE Fight Night 23.
The South Korean isn't the strongest grappler in the division, nor is he the most elite striker. However, he does most things right, and that, especially, is all that matters.
Rasulov will have his radar locked on bringing the fight to the canvas. Unfortunately, the undefeated warrior will be having anything but a field day against Ok on the canvas.
The TEAM MAD star did a good job of subduing what Christian Lee threw at him there, and if that is anything to go by, he'll certainly execute things far easier against the Turkish star.
With one thing out of the equation, Ok will let his hands go on the feet, switching between stances and alternating between uppercuts, hooks, or straights to punch his way to a highlight-reel ending.
Mike Murillo: Ok Rae Yoon via decision
I see a competitive showdown here between two fighters with contrasting styles. You have, on one hand, a noted striker in Ok Rae Yoon, who can be a handful if allowed to do his thing, and on the other, a crafty wrestler capable of getting the job done on the ground.
I'm giving the win, however, to Ok by decision as he has fought in bigger fights like the one at hand and against some of the top fighters in the world in ONE Championship, which I believe could not be said for Rasulov at this point, despite boasting an unblemished record of 14-0.
Also, Ok has done a solid job fine-tuning his game through the course of his ONE journey to enable him to take on with confidence whatever look is presented to him.
Just the same, you don't go undefeated if you don't have some serious game as well, so I see Rasulov making a tough stand but eventually succumbing to a loss to the more seasoned Ok by decision.
Ted Razon: Alibeg Rasulov via knockout
We're all quite familiar with Ok Rae Yoon's handiwork. His versatile skills on the ground and on the feet are no joke, which netted him massive wins over some big names.
On the contrary, the undefeated Alibeg Rasulov is somewhat of an enigma since his 14 wins all came outside the promotion.
Still, it does feel like the Turkish dynamo brings forth an aura of invincibility. I expect Rasulov to impose his Dagestani-style pressure as early as round 1.
Being the smart fighter that he is, Ok will adjust and I see him landing some good shots on the feet.
Rasulov, though, stayed unbeaten since he can also hold his own when it comes to striking.
I see him tagging Ok in round three and taking the fight to the ground again to assert his grappling superiority. The South Korean's grappling defense is also commendable, and I see him escaping submission attempts from Rasulov.
Still, I predict the ONE debutante to finish this match via ground-and-pound and take home the interim lightweight MMA belt.
Vince Richards: Ok Rae Yoon via decision
Ok Rae Yoon is the quintessential mixed martial artist.
While he won't be in the 99th percentile of either strikers or grapplers, his striking and grappling prowess are as refined as anyone's.
The former ONE lightweight MMA world champion's best trait, however, is his immense toughness. Christian Lee threw everything at him in their first fight, and 'The Warrior' barely made a dent in Ok's armor.
I expect Ok to brandish that grand armor again when he faces the undefeated Alibeg Rasulov at ONE Fight Night 23.
Rasulov will try to put the match on the canvas, an area where he's expected to hold the advantage, but Ok is far too wiley to be taken down and get submitted.
Ok also holds a massive five-inch height advantage, which will allow him to go mental in his brawling striking style.
I don't expect Ok to score a knockout, although his sneaky power was on full display against Eddie Alvarez in 2021, but I do see him overwhelming Rasulov with his looping hooks.
This will see the judges' scorecards, and Ok's aggressive style will earn him the decision and the interim ONE lightweight MMA world title.
