ONE Championship lightweight champion Christian Lee is targeting Eddie Alvarez as his next opponent — and he wants to throw down in the Big Apple.
Alvarez was set to take on Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev in the finals of the lightweight grand prix at ONE: Century this past weekend. However, “The Underground King” had to pull out days before the event due to injury.
Lee stepped in on short notice and was able to dominate one of the more feared lightweights in the promotion in Arslanaliev with a unanimous decision victory to win the grand prix.
“In this fight game, at the highest level, there are not many layers of separation,” Lee said afterward in an interview with The Schmo. “It all comes to your gameplan and your strategy. We knew that ‘Dagi’ was a tough opponent. He was coming in there really trying to take my head off.
“We weathered the storm, I was able to take him down, pound him out all three rounds and come away with the win.”
Considering the winner of the grand prix was supposed to face Lee, it makes sense for “The Warrior” to face Alvarez next.
The former UFC lightweight champion has not had it easy since debuting for ONE earlier this year as he is currently 1-1 with the promotion, facing adversity in both outings. However, Alvarez could still accomplish his goal of becoming champion in yet another organization.
Lee is open to giving him that opportunity and thinks it could take place next year in the United States. And while he would love to have ONE Championship’s first-ever American event take place in Hawaii, he is more enticed by competing in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
“Man, I would love to bring ONE Championship to Hawaii,” Lee said. “But it’s always been a dream of mine to fight in Madison Square Garden. So either one is perfect for me. Let’s leave it up to ONE Championship.”
