17-Year-Old Adrian Lee is set to make his highly anticipated debut in the ONE Championship. Get all the details about his upcoming fight and his journey to this moment.
Adrian Lee, the 17-year-old brother of ONE’s MMA title-holders Angela Lee and Christian Lee, is gearing up for his highly anticipated debut in the ONE Championship. Lee, a four-time national youth MMA champion, will face off against Eric Cortez in a 165-pound bout on September 23’s Toughman Hawaii Next Generation card at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Lee’s journey to this moment has been marked by both triumph and tragedy. In February, he clinched the 2023 Hawaii high school state wrestling title, just two months after the devastating loss of his sister Victoria Lee. Victoria, a rising star in ONE Championship, tragically passed away on December 26.
Despite the heartbreak, Adrian Lee has shown incredible resilience and determination. He is the first Lee sibling to return to fighting since Victoria’s death, and his upcoming bout is a testament to his unwavering spirit.
Lee’s opponent, Eric Cortez, is a 17-year-old member of Sacramento, California’s renowned Team Alpha Male gym. The fight is already generating significant buzz, with former UFC star Urijah Faber, the head of Team Alpha Male, expected to be in attendance.
Adrian Lee took to Instagram to share the official fight poster and footage of his last fight, which garnered praise from the ONE Championship community. Angela Lee, his sister and ONE’s CEO and chairman Chatri Sityodtong all expressed their excitement for his debut.
In addition to his accomplishments in the ring, Adrian Lee has also been a source of inspiration for his family. He won an amateur title in December, just days before his sister’s passing. Victoria congratulated him and expressed her pride in what would be her final Instagram post.
The Lee siblings have been coached by their father Ken Lee, but Chatri Sityodtong revealed that he has retired from coaching following Victoria’s death. However, the family’s United MMA Hawaii gym recently reopened, with Adrian and Christian spotted training there.
Christian Lee, who holds the lightweight and welterweight MMA titles in ONE Championship, is set to return to the promotion next year. Meanwhile, Angela Lee, the atomweight MMA champion, is contemplating retirement and will make a significant announcement about her future next month in Singapore.
Stay tuned for Adrian Lee’s highly anticipated debut in the ONE Championship, where he aims to make a name for himself and honor his sister’s memory.
Fight Results
| Fighters | Weight Class | Result ||—————-|————–|——–|| Adrian Lee | 165 pounds | TBD || Eric Cortez | 165 pounds | TBD |