ONE Championship: Christian Lee becomes youngest lightweight champ

ONE Championship (ONE) put on another exciting night of martial arts action at the Singapore Indoor Stadium with ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON featuring a number of unforgettable and compelling contests.

In the main event, Christian “The Warrior” Lee of Singapore captured the ONE Lightweight World Championship with a stunning technical knockout victory over Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki of Japan. He becomes the youngest male mixed martial arts World Champion in history.

Christian Lee (ONE Championship photo)
Christian Lee (ONE Championship photo)

In the co-main event, Regian “The Immortal” Eersel of The Netherlands was crowned the inaugural ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion with a unanimous decision victory over countryman Nieky “The Natural” Holzken.

Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio of the Philippines returned to winning form with a unanimous decision win over South Korean newcomer Kim Kyu Sung to earn a spot as an alternate in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix.

The smaller Filipino used his superior striking and impeccable head movement to outpoint Kim in the first two rounds. Kim tried to rally back in the final round, but his comeback came a little too late, as Eustaquio was awarded the decision win after three rounds.

Kim Kyu Sung VS Geje Eustaquio (ONE Championship photo)
Kim Kyu Sung VS Geje Eustaquio (ONE Championship photo)

Kicking the action off at ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON was India’s Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju who picked up an impressive submission win over Filipino striker Richard “Notorious” Corminal in the first round of their opening lightweight bout.

Raju utilized his range to outstrike Corminal but ended up getting tagged and dropped by the Filipino late in the opening round. Raju quickly recovered and took his Filipino opponent down before transitioning into a rear naked choke and forcing the tap.

Official results for ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON

  • ONE Lightweight World Championship bout: Christian Lee defeats Shinya Aoki by TKO (Strikes) at 0:51 minutes of round 2
  • ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Championship bout: Regian Eersel defeats Nieky Holzken by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
  • ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Quarter-final bout: Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy defeats Giorgio Petrosyan by Split Decision (SD) after 5 rounds
  • ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Quarter-final bout: Samy Sana defeats Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
  • Mixed Martial Arts Lightweight bout: Cosmo Alexandre defeats Sage Northcutt by Knockout (KO) at 0:29 minutes of round 1
  • ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Semi-final bout: Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev defeats Amir Khan by Knockout (KO) at 2:56 minutes of round 1
  • ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Alternate bout: Geje Eustaquio defeats Kim Kyu Sung by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
  • Mixed Martial Arts Strawweight bout: Miao Li Tao defeats Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke by Knockout (KO) at 4:09 minutes of round 1
  • ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Quarter-final bout bout: Jo Nattawut defeats Sasha Moisa by Technical Knockout (TKO) at 1:24 minutes of round 3
  • Mixed Martial Arts Strawweight bout: Yoshitaka Naito defeats Alex Silva by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
  • Mixed Martial Arts Featherweight bout: Garry Tonon defeats Yoshiki Nakahara by Submission (Heel Hook) at 0:55 minutes of round 1
  • ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Quarter-final bout: Dzhabar Askerov defeats Enriko Kehl by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
  • Mixed Martial Arts Women’s Atomweight bout: Mei Yamaguchi defeats Laura Balin by Submission (Armbar) at 3:46 minutes of round 1
  • Mixed Martial Arts Lightweight bout: Iuri Lapicus defeats Shannon Wiratchai by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:10 minutes of round 3
  • ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Alternate bout: Daniel Dawson defeats Brown Pinas by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds
  • Mixed Martial Arts Lightweight bout: Rahul Raju defeats Richard Corminal by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:43 minutes of round 1