“He might lose his belts very soon” - Islam Makhachev says Christian Lee in for tough tests against Izagakhmaev and Ramazanov

Reigning ONE lightweight and welterweight world champion ‘The Warrior’ Christian Lee is on top of the food chain in ONE Championship. But of course, with great power comes great responsibility, and a whole host of killers who are looking to dethrone him.

Fresh off his history-making victory over Kiamrian Abbasov at ONE on Prime Video 4 a couple of weeks ago, a performance that crowned him a two-division world titleholder, Lee is now faced with a few interesting challengers who have emerged from both divisions - No.3-ranked lightweight contender Saygid Izagakhmaev and unbeaten top welterweight Murad Ramazanov.

In town for all of the festivities was UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who cornered Izagakhmaev for his fight against Shinya Aoki at ONE 163. Makhachev was witness to Lee’s epic victory, but while the Russian was certainly impressed, he couldn’t help but send ‘The Warrior’ a stern warning.

Makhachev told ONE Championship in a recent interview:

“It is not a coincidence that he is champion in two weight divisions, but I think the next two fights in his career will be the hardest for him – Saygid Izagakhmaev and Murad Ramazanov. So, as talented as he is, he might lose his belts very soon, whether he wants it or not.”

Coincidentally, both Christian Lee and Makhachev called each other out to a cross-promotional super-fight earlier in fight week. And both men were open to the possibility. Whether or not that is even remotely in the works is up in the air. For now, it seems, Makhachev could be right and Lee should focus on Izagakhmaev and Ramazanov, who are knocking on his doorstep.

Ramazanov takes on the debuting Croatian sensation Roberto ‘Robocop’ Soldic at ONE on Prime Video 5 in Manila this Friday, December 2nd, live and free for North American fans with a Prime Video subscription. Izagakhmaev, meanwhile, is taking a little break to spend time with family while he awaits his next fight.

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Islam Makhachev tells Christian Lee to focus on Saygid Izagakhmaev

While both Islam Makhachev and Christian Lee want to have a fight against each other, the Dagestani star told ‘The Warrior’ to focus on his potential fight against Saygid Izagakhmaev.

Makhachev, in a recent Instagram post, told Lee that one of the gravest mistakes he could make is to look past Izagakhmaev.

“Ha! You better focus on your next contender Saygid Izagakhmaev, and we will see how good you are"

Christian Lee, the ONE lightweight and welterweight world champion, and Makhachev, the UFC lightweight world champion, both expressed their desire to fight one another to determine who really is the best lightweight fighter in the world.