Christian “The Warrior” Lee has made history.
The teenage sensation faced two-division DEEP Champion Kazunori Yokota in a highly competitive featherweight tilt at ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY on Friday, 9 March. He submitted the Japanese veteran with a special submission he calls the “Terminator Guillotine,” while also setting the record for most stoppage victories in ONE Championship history.
In the first round, the crafty Yokota stayed at range early, pawing at Lee with a left jab and attacking with thudding kicks. His confidence was as high as his chin, leaving himself open for a right hand, and Lee was not shy about trying to test it.
Whenever the two clinched, the advantage went to Lee, who took Yokota to the ground and looked to get in his hooks. The Japanese athlete consistently scrambled free until 25 seconds were left in the opening stanza, at which point he was tagged with a couple of hard elbows.
Yokota came to life in the second round, as he chased Lee down, landed strikes of his own, and even scored a takedown. But “The Warrior” got back up, connected with a hard right, and then changed levels against the fence to put the Japanese competitor on his back. Yokota turtled up in an effort to survive, but when he scrambled, Lee sank his unique choke around the Japanese veteran’s neck and forced him to submit.
Lee improves his record to 9-1, and sets the record for most stoppage victories in ONE Championship history at nine. Following the bout, the teen expressed his desire to challenge for the ONE Featherweight World Title, a case that has only grown stronger with this epic win.
