Korean MMA star Ok Rae-yoon loses headline bout to undefeated Rasulov

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Korean MMA star Ok Rae-yoon loses headline bout to undefeated Rasulov

Published: 08 Jul. 2024, 10:32

Korea's Ok Rae-yoon, left, takes a punch from Turkey's Alibeg Rasulov in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday. [ONE CHAMPIONSHIP]

Alibeg Rasulov entered Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium an undefeated man on Saturday. and he left the iconic arena in the same manner, as he beat the former lightweight MMA king Ok Rae-yoon in the ONE Fight Night 23 main event.

The 31-year-old Turkish juggernaut enjoyed a successful promotional debut, defeating the Korean star after five rounds of action in U.S. Friday primetime.

Originally, both men were scheduled to compete for the ONE Interim Lightweight MMA World Championship and subsequent shot at lineal divisional titleholder Christian Lee.

Rasulov, however, became ineligible to win the belt because although he made the 170-pound limit and passed hydration, he did so after the official time window closed on weigh-in day.

But that didn’t stop the Hyperion Fighters representative from showcasing his rugged style to ONE Championship’s global fan base.

For most of the 25-minute war, Rasulov rag-dolled Ok inside the clinch, using his dirty boxing and close-range elbows to change the terrain of the 33-year-old Korean’s face.

Ok, revealing heart but hiding pain, tried to match his foe in close range. The former titleholder, who was looking for a rubber match with Lee, found his rhythm in the later rounds and began peppering Rasulov with telescopic left and right punches.

Korea's Ok Rae-yoon, left, struggles in a match against Turkey's Alibeg Rasulov at ONE Fight Night 23 in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday. [ONE CHAMPIONSHIP]

But it was too little, too late, as Rasulov did enough in the early going to taste victory and improve his unblemished MMA record to 14-0.

Though he didn’t get the interim belt, Rasulov may still be the next man to challenge Lee, who’s been transforming himself into a more devastating force ahead of his return to the world’s largest martial arts organization.

The Turkish athlete even called out the two-division king following his victory, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be Lee’s first opponent when he returns to action.

BY JOHN WOLCOTT [kjdsports@joongang.co.kr]