Christian Lee: I'd Beat Islam Makhachev, Want Fight 'Now'

Christian Lee says he would "dominate" UFC double champion Islam Makhachev if the two ever shared a cage, and he wants that fight before anything else on his schedule.

"I feel very confident that I'm the best fighter in the world across any organization," Lee told MMA Fighting. "My goal, if I could choose one fight, would be to fight Islam right now. I'll go for the welterweight belt."

Lee is the reigning ONE Championship lightweight and welterweight titleholder, the same two divisions Makhachev has ruled in the UFC. Makhachev has lost just once in his career, a 2016 knockout to Adriano Martins, and has since reeled off 17 consecutive wins, a UFC record. Lee has dropped only one of his last 11 fights under the ONE banner, finishing all but one of his victims.

What Lee Says It Would Take to Beat Makhachev

Christian Lee believes the blueprint for beating Islam Makhachev is turning Makhachev's own game back on him. "Take the fight to him," Lee said. "I feel like I can catch him on the feet. I feel like I can take him down, dominate him, do everything that he does to other people. I feel like I have a different style, different skillset, and I would really love to show that one day."

Asked whether Makhachev is better than his training partner and friend Khabib Nurmagomedov, Lee declined to rank them, pointing out that Nurmagomedov retired undefeated on his own terms. "You have to respect that and know that he cut his own career short," Lee said. "Right now, Islam is the only one in the works, so he would be the guy I'm calling for."

There is no cross-promotional fight on the table. Makhachev remains under UFC contract and has shown no indication of testing free agency or a superfight outside the organization, so Lee's callout stays firmly in the hypothetical column for now.

The Real Fight: Lee Defends Against Tye Ruotolo

Christian Lee actually steps into the cage Friday against Tye Ruotolo, defending his ONE welterweight title in the main event of The Inner Circle 37 in Thailand. Ruotolo, a decorated jiu-jitsu competitor and ONE grappling champion, has fought just twice under MMA rules and won both by submission, including a finish of Lee's younger brother, Adrian Lee, this past September.

Lee says Adrian was fighting through a back injury that limited his sparring that night and believes the current version of his brother would beat Ruotolo. He insists revenge is not a factor in his own preparation. "There's no room for emotion," Lee said, adding that the plan is direct: "I plan to knock him out cold or put him to sleep." Lee trained for the fight alongside UFC star Max Holloway in Hawaii.

Betting Angle

For bettors, the matchup pits a dominant two-division MMA champion against a grappling specialist with limited cage experience. Lee's finishing rate and granular familiarity with Ruotolo's takedown-heavy approach, gained partly from helping prepare Adrian Lee for the same opponent, should make him a clear betting favorite heading into fight week. The bigger value conversation for fans is the method of victory market, since Lee has stated plainly he's hunting a knockout or stoppage rather than playing it safe on the scorecards. The Makhachev callout carries zero betting relevance until or unless a real cross-promotional fight gets negotiated, which remains unlikely given Makhachev's UFC standing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a fight between Christian Lee and Islam Makhachev actually happening?

No. Christian Lee has called for a fight with Islam Makhachev, but Makhachev remains under UFC contract and no cross-promotional bout has been arranged.

Who is Christian Lee fighting next?

Christian Lee defends his ONE Championship welterweight title against Tye Ruotolo in the main event of The Inner Circle 37 on Friday in Thailand.

Has Tye Ruotolo beaten a member of the Lee family before?

Yes, Tye Ruotolo submitted Christian Lee's brother, Adrian Lee, in September 2025, and Christian says Adrian was dealing with a back injury that night.