"A lot of big shoes to fill" - Nico Cornejo says all the pressure is on Adrian Lee ahead of their ONE 168 showdown

ONE Championship debutant Nico Cornejo will enter his duel against the prolific Adrian Lee with nothing to lose. After all, the American will simply look to capitalize on the opportunity to perform in front of a global audience at ONE 168: Denver on September 6 at Ball Arena.

Cornejo, though, believes Lee will carry the extra burden of living up to his lofty family name.

'The Steel City Kid' said in an exclusive interview with MMA UK:

"He has a lot on his plate to prove, I guess. He has, you know, a lot of big shoes to fill on his side of the family."

Adrian Lee is practically mixed martial arts royalty. His eldest sister, Angela, was the longtime atomweight MMA world champion before her retirement last year.

Adrian's older brother Christian currently lords over the lightweight and welterweight MMA ranks. His other sibling, Victoria, was also an undefeated MMA prospect before her passing. Given his distinguished family heritage, there are definitely a lot of eyes on the 18-year-old youngster.

But judging by Lee's stellar performance in his promotional debut, he does not look like the type to break under pressure.

'The Phenom' showcased a well-rounded skillset when he submitted Antonio Mammarella at ONE 167 last June.

Watch Cornejo's full interview:

Adrian Lee grateful for the support of his high school sweetheart

Another reason behind Adrian Lee's inspired performance is his girlfriend Ava.

The Prodigy Training Center affiliate recently told ONE Championship that his girl always has his back:

"Me and my girlfriend, we met a few years ago in high school and we'd been friends. We just started dating a year ago. It means a lot to me and gives me another reason why I want to get to the top. I'm grateful to have her by my side."

Tickets for ONE 168: Denver are available via Ticketmaster.

​