The Lee family has firmly established a legacy within ONE Championship and on June 7 the household added another fighter to the mix. At ONE 167, 18-year-old Adrian Lee made his successful MMA debut less than one month after graduating from high school.
Lee is the younger brother of the promotion’s current two-division champion, Christian Lee. The family has also had two former fighters in the women’s Atomweight division, the retired Angela Lee and the late Victoria Lee.
Adrian Lee Submits Antonio Mammarella at ONE 167
Adrian Lee impresses in his MMA debut getting a RNC in the second round 🔥
The 18 year old is just getting started! #ONE167 pic.twitter.com/Xb0ARAEcMe
— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) June 8, 2024
Becoming the youngest member of the legendary Lee family to venture into MMA, Adrian Lee came out of the gate on fire at ONE 167, dominating Antonio Mammarella for seven minutes before finding a rear-naked choke submission.
From the opening bell, Lee immediately lunged at Mammarella, throwing non-stop combinations and closing the distance. Upon pushing his opponent against the fence, Lee repeatedly executed technical trips and judo throws to complete takedowns.
While Mammarella was competitive in moments on the feet, the 18-year-old phenom was dominant with his grappling. After nearly pulling off a Kimura submission at the end of the first round, Lee went back to the well in the second frame and forced a tap seconds after climbing onto Mammarella’s back.
Return from Tragedy at ONE 167
In making his MMA debut at ONE 167, Adrian Lee became the first member of his family to return to competition since the tragic passing of 18-year-old Victoria Lee in 2022. At the time of her death, Victoria Lee was in a similar spot to the one Adrian Lee currently occupies as a teenage prodigy with world champions as her older siblings.
Since her death — which was later revealed to have been the result of a suicide — then-champion Angela Lee immediately announced her retirement from active competition and the family shut down the United MMA gym they recently opened in Hawaii. Christian Lee announced his similar decision to take a break from fighting but confirmed he was not retiring. He has yet to resume his career but still holds onto his status as a double champion.
After leaving her championship MMA career behind at just 25 years old, Angela Lee co-opened the United BJJ gym in Hawaii with her husband, Bruno Pucci. Lee has poured her efforts into advocating for combat sports mental health by starting the non-profit organization Fight Story.
Graduation From High School
Much like Raul Rosas Jr.’s anticipated UFC debut, Adrian Lee signed with ONE Championship while he was still preparing himself to graduate from high school. Less than three weeks after receiving his diploma from Mililani High School in Oahu, Hawaii, Lee got his hand raised in Singapore to celebrate his first career win.
While the process does not seem complicated to some, the timeline translates to the 18-year-old being in an active fight camp and cutting weight while preparing for and walking on stage to signal the end of his high school life. He would also need to be preparing to fly across the world from Hawaii to Singapore almost immediately after celebrating his accomplishments.
Though ONE Championship does not allow traditional weight cutting with the implementation of their hydration tests, Lee was likely finishing up his final exams while on a severe diet and mentally preparing himself to engage in a fistfight with a grown man just weeks later.
Post-Fight Bonus
Most do not begin their professional careers until age 23 to 25 but Adrian Lee has already begun his life as a fighter. Along with his fight purse, Lee will bring home an additional $50,000 as it would be announced that ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong was impressed enough by the young lightweight’s performance to give him an additional paycheck.
Lee’s guaranteed fighter pay has not been openly released but it has been a well-known fact that a debuting fight with the promotion has not been a lucrative opportunity for the average fighter. However, Lee may have been given a heftier contract given his name value within the family and attraction as a teenage prospect.
About the Author
Jaren Kawada is a freelance sports writer from Indianapolis, Indiana by way of Honolulu, Hawaii with a strong passion for MMA and sports betting. Kawada has also written for Sportskeeda MMA, FanSided MMA, and BetSided as a combat sports analyst. Follow on X/Twitter at @jarenkawada1 or on Instagram at @kawadajaren.
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