Former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Ok Rae Yoon has had his share of good times and bad. And the lessons he’s learned, both positive and negative, have shaped him into the combatant he is today.
The 33-year-old returns on Friday, July 5, at ONE Fight Night 23 against Alibeg Rasulov in lightweight MMA action at Bangkok, Thailand’s revered Lumpinee Boxing Stadium as he looks to ramp up his momentum toward the World Title he once held.
During a career spanning over 20 professional bouts and numerous amateur outings, Ok has faced every twist and turn in the road. Some of the tumultuous times came outside the cage, too. But if you’re going through hell, you might as well keep going – and Ok persevered, which made those dark times much brighter.
“I went for my first amateur fight and lost quite quickly from an armbar. I knew that I had lost not because I was a poor athlete, but because I was not skilled enough,” the former king remembered.
“There was this one time when I was competing in China. I broke my hand during the fight and had to undergo surgery. It took me many months to recover after the surgery.”
“During that time, I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t train and I couldn’t work to earn money. The financial stress and uncertainty for the future then was very bad. They were some dark times.” Rae Yoon added.
Those lessons led Ok to eventually claiming the ONE Lightweight MMA World Title. To get it, though, he defeated Christian Lee after a hard-fought decision at ONE: REVOLUTION in 2021 – the crowning moment of his career.
Having been through hard times before, Ok knows of the fortitude required to get there again, and he’ll attempt to build on his momentum next month.
Ok Rae Yoon vows to become world champion again
Former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Ok Rae Yoon shocked the combat sports world when he dethroned Christian Lee for the gold at ONE: REVOLUTION in 2021.
While his rematch with “The Warrior” saw him part with the World Title, the South Korean slugger is out to prove it wasn’t a one-and-done.
Ok believes his fighting credentials solidify him as a threat to the upper echelon of lightweight MMA combatants, and he’s at peace with his status as an underdog. But that said, he urges onlookers not to be surprised when he reaches the pinnacle one more time.
“I’ve been an underdog for most of my career at ONE Championship. I’ve faced top competition, and every time, I’ve proved people wrong. I will be fighting an elite competitor once again, and as always, I want to surprise people and exceed expectations,” Ok said.
“People can make predictions, but I will continue to win. I ask the ONE fans for their love and support as I do this. I will make it back to the title.”
Rae Yoon returns for his first bout of 2024 this summer at ONE Fight Night 23 on Friday, July 5, inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, where he’ll look to make good on his word and continue to climb the lightweight MMA ladder.