5 possible opponents for Ok Rae Yoon’s first title defense

#2. Ok Rae Yoon vs. Shinya Aoki

Who better to send into the fray to challenge the new lightweight champion than ONE Championship’s resident ‘cleaner-upper’ himself? Japanese legend and multi-time lightweight world champion Shinya ‘Tobikan Judan’ Aoki is just the man for the job.

At 38 years of age, Aoki is still as capable a finisher as ever. Since losing his lightweight strap to Lee in May 2019, Aoki has gone on to win his last four fights in the circle.

He tapped out former ONE featherweight world champion Honorio ‘The Rock’ Banario in less than a minute, decimated compatriot Kimihiro Eto, and shocked former LFA champion James Nakashima. To cap it all off, Aoki closed the book on his rivalry with Folayang by taking the trilogy earlier this year.

The bottom line is that Aoki is an enigma. Despite his age and experience (he’s fought for nearly two decades already), he remains one of the most dangerous lightweights in the world, bar none.

Can Ok Rae Yoon escape the jaws of Aoki’s vaunted grappling? There’s only one way to find out.

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#1. Ok Rae Yoon vs. Christian Lee

Last but not least, and probably the most likely scenario, is a Christian Lee vs. Ok Rae Yoon rematch. Given the way the first fight went down, a second meeting is inevitable. They have to run it back to erase any doubts.

In all likelihood, this is the direction ONE Championship seems to be headed. But we’ll have to wait and see if the rematch can be put together.

Lee appears adamant that the only fighter he will step into the circle against when he returns is Ok Rae Yoon. The 23-year-old feels he was robbed of the decision and the lightweight title.

The decision was unanimous in favor of Ok Rae Yoon, but there’s no denying the fight was a close one.

Lee appeared bothered by Ok Rae Yoon’s size and length, so expect the young former champion to make critical adjustments in the rematch. Ok Rae Yoon, for the most part, only knows how to fight one way, but he just does it so well.

All in all, there isn’t a fan out there who wouldn’t want to see Ok Rae Yoon fight Lee again.