The striker-vs-grappler debate is as old as the sport of MMA itself, and in the ONE Fight Night 23 on Prime Video main event, we’ll get another thrilling example to ponder. In the July 5 headliner, Dagestan-born Turkish wrestling standout Alibeg Rasulov and elite striker Ok Rae Yoon clash for the ONE Interim Lightweight MMA World Title at Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
In a recent interview with ONE, Ok was under no illusions about the task he faces in his quest to reclaim his share of divisional gold.
“I think we are both going to do what we are good at. Alibeg is going to bring his Dagestani wrestling to try and take me down. I’m going to do my best to not get taken down and hit him with good shots,” he said.
“ONE allows for knees on the ground. So, if he comes in for the takedown, I’ll make sure he pays for it with my knees. Then I’ll hit him with my shots and get the KO.”
Takedown defense, of course, will be key for the former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion. If he can keep the fight standing and use his movement to maintain space, his fast hands will do the damage.
Alibeg Rasulov remains confident even if he can’t take Ok Rae Yoon down
Alibeg Rasulov is confident wherever the fight goes when he takes on Ok Rae Yoon for the ONE Interim Lightweight MMA World Title in the ONE Fight Night 23 headliner.
Also speaking to ONE, the 31-year-old revealed, unsurprisingly, that his high-level wrestling game would be key to his success on July 5.
“It’s going to be an interesting fight. He fights standing up, while I mostly wrestle. The one who forces his game will win, but I’m still confident in myself,” he said.
“If I don’t succeed in wrestling, I will fight standing, but I can fight on the ground as well. I’m going to force my tempo on him.”
For Rasulov, he’ll need to keep close to Ok to blunt his striking tools. His relentless pace and world class top control will likely be the difference maker, as he looks to tire the South Korean star out and land damaging ground strikes.
Alibeg Rasulov lived most of his life in Dagestan, where he honed his skills in the wrestling talent hotbed before relocating to Turkey to pursue MMA.
The move has proved fruitful, as he has amassed a perfect 14-0 professional record since his MMA debut in 2013.