mark raimondiESPN Workers Author2 minute learn
Angela Lee, lengthy one among ONE Championship’s high stars, is retiring and vacating the ONE Ladies’s 115-pound MMA title, it was introduced Friday night time throughout ONE Combat Evening 14 in Singapore.
Lee’s announcement had a huge effect on the primary occasion of ONE Combat Evening 14. The battle between Stamp Fairtex and Ham So Hee Hee was initially scheduled to be for the interim ONE Ladies’s 115-pound title, however as a substitute grew to become a bout for the undisputed title.
Fairtex stopped Hamm by TKO with a physique shot at 1:04 of the third spherical to win the title. She is presently the ONE Champion in MMA, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai.
Lee, 27, is stepping away from MMA following the suicide of his sister Victoria final September. Victoria, 18, additionally fought for ONE Championship. Lee instructed ESPN’s Daniel Cormier earlier this month that she additionally tried suicide in 2017.
“I haven’t got the braveness to step in there once more,” Lee instructed ESPN this week. “And as corny as it might sound or no matter, should you comply with your coronary heart it is going to at all times lead you in the fitting path. And that is why I do know I am making the fitting resolution. .”
Lee (11-3) was essentially the most adorned feminine fighter in ONE historical past. She lives in Hawaii, was born in Canada, is of Singaporean Chinese language and Korean descent, and received the 115-pound title in 2016 on the age of 19. This victory of hers made her the youngest champion in main blended martial arts historical past. Lee has defended the title 5 instances, most lately scoring a submission victory over Fairtex in March 2022.
“I am actually happy with all the things I’ve accomplished and don’t have any regrets,” Lee mentioned. She mentioned: “It has been a very nice profession and I am wanting again and smiling and searching ahead to the long run.”
Lee’s future additionally consists of working with a nonprofit referred to as Combat Story, which he began in Victoria’s honor. The charity’s purpose is to empower individuals to inform their private tales about psychological well being.
Christian Lee, the 25-year-old brother of Angela and Victoria, is a ONE light-weight and welterweight champion, to not point out among the best younger fighters on this planet. He has not introduced what he has determined about his future in MMA.
“My sister was a fighter, my complete household was fighters, my dad was a coach, so it was actually powerful,” Angela Lee mentioned. “And I believe that is one of many massive components as a result of all the things was intertwined and linked.” [why] It’s extremely troublesome to proceed, so I withdraw. ”
