ONE Championship

No fighter in ONE has more wins, more finishes, or more first-round finishes than the promotion's lightweight MMA king. His next defense comes against a grappler who has already beaten a member of his family.

Christian Lee defends his ONE Lightweight MMA World Title against reigning ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo at The Inner Circle 37 on Friday, November 6. The event streams exclusively for members from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 28-year-old Singaporean-American holds an 18-4 record, with 17 victories via finish and 11 of those in the first round. His bouts last an average of just 5:14 minutes.

Lee debuted in ONE in 2015 at 17 and first claimed lightweight gold in May 2019. He came from behind against Shinya “Tobikan Judan†Aoki. That win made him the youngest male MMA World Champion in the promotion.

He went on to defend the belt multiple times against world-class opposition and also holds the ONE Welterweight MMA World Title. A brief spell without the lightweight strap followed a loss to Ok Rae Yoon, which he corrected in their rematch.

Last year, the Prodigy Training Center star turned back Alibeg Rasulov in a rematch that left no room for debate. The numbers now make him a five-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion and one of the greatest to compete in the sport.

Christian Lee faces a grappler chasing history

Ruotolo, 23, opened his MMA career by submitting Lee's younger brother Adrian “The Phenom†Lee with a rear-naked choke in round two, the first loss Adrian had ever suffered. A sub-three-minute finish of Shozo Isojima followed, lifting the Tenore fighter and twin brother of Kade Ruotolo to 2-0.

No ONE Submission Grappling World Champion has ever captured an MMA World Title in the promotion. Ruotolo gets his chance in just his third MMA outing, while Lee looks to add another chapter to one of the most decorated careers ONE has ever seen.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

Most Valuable Promotions has responded to a lawsuit filed by
former world champion Heather
Hardy over her 2023 rematch with Amanda
Serrano.

Hardy is seeking $10 million in damages from MVP, alleging in her
complaint that the promotion moved forward with the bout despite
concerns about the risks involved. Hardy alleges that she suffered
permanent neurological damage from the fight, which took place in
August 2023 on the Jake
Paul-Nate Diaz
card.

Most Valuable Promotions cites Hardy’s medical clearance and
commission oversight in response to the lawsuit

According to Hardy's complaint, the fight presented an
“extraordinary and foreseeable risk of serious neurological harm.â€
She also alleges that the bout contributed to lasting issues,
including traumatic brain injury, memory loss and double
vision.

MVP disputed the allegations in a statement issued in response to
the lawsuit, emphasizing Hardy's medical clearance and the
commission's oversight of the contest.

“MVP has great respect for Heather Hardy. We recognize the
difficulty of her circumstances and extend our sincere sympathy and
hope that she receives the care and support she deserves,†MVP
responded (via ESPN). “Heather's participation on our Aug. 5,
2023, card was arranged through her promoter, Lou DiBella, who
contracted for the fight, and Heather publicly expressed her
gratitude for the opportunity both before and after the fight.â€

“MVP followed applicable protocols for the fight, Heather was
medically cleared to compete by the athletic commission overseeing
the event, and the bout proceeded under the commission's authority
and supervision in accordance with their standard medical and
safety requirements,†the statement added. “MVP remains committed
to fighter safety and supporting the athletes who compete in our
events in full compliance with commission standards.â€

Zuffa LLC

Jose Aldo doesn't subscribe to the theory that Conor McGregor can never return to lightweight.

McGregor hasn't had a lightweight bout since fracturing his fibula and tibia in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier back in 2021. His short-lived return to the Octagon against Max Holloway, which also ended in an injury, was contested at 170 pounds.

While many believe McGregor is far past the days of competing at 155 pounds, Aldo isn't convinced. In an interview with Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting, the UFC Hall of Famer said McGregor can return to lightweight if he has the right plan in place.

“Yeah, I think first he needs to go through some dietary re-education to see if he can get back down and be lighter again,†Aldo said. “I think, in my opinion, he has the frame for 155, so it would be good. And I'll tell you this: today, if Conor fights at 155 and beats a name [that isn't necessarily at the top], the division is wide open again. To me, the division has kind of stalled there. Ilia [Topuria] moved up and lost to [Justin] Gaethje, so it's a bit of a mess there, and anyone can come in and snatch the title.â€

McGregor is vowing to make a strong comeback after suffering a knee injury during his UFC 329 return. The rematch with Holloway ended just past the one-minute mark. The “Notorious†one suffered ACL and meniscus injuries, and he will be out until at least the summer of 2027.

Over the years, McGregor and reigning UFC lightweight titleholder Justin Gaethje have traded barbs. Gaethje has admitted that fighting McGregor before he eventually retires is his preference. Some fans are skeptical of the bout ever coming to fruition.

Do you think there is any chance Conor McGregor returns to the lightweight division? Sound off in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM