Adrian Lee rejects idea of fighting brother Christian for lightweight crown one day: “I will wait until he relinquishes his belt”
ONE Championship newcomer Adrian Lee has no intention of challenging his elder brother and lightweight MMA world champion Christian Lee at any time in the future.
Adrian clearly made this known in an interview with EssentiallySports as he prepares for his promotional debut next month, highlighting that he would wait for the time that 'The Warrior' no longer has the ONE lightweight gold before making a go at it.
The 18-year-old Prodigy Training Center said:
"Me and my brother will never face each other. If the time comes when I am the No. 1 contender, and he's still the lightweight champ, I will wait until he relinquishes his belt."
Adrian Lee is set to make his ONE debut on June 7 at ONE 167: Stamp vs Zamboanga at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
He will go up against fellow ONE newbie Antonio Mammarella of Australia in a lightweight MMA battle.
Christian Lee, who is also the welterweight world champion, meanwhile, has yet to return to action after taking a self-imposed break to mourn the passing of younger sister and fellow ONE fighter Victoria in December 2022.
ONE 167: Stamp vs Zamboanga will be available live and for free in U.S. primetime to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Christian Lee hails younger brother Adrian Lee as the next ONE lightweight king
Adrian Lee may not have a desire to challenge elder brother Christian for his ONE lightweight MMA gold but the latter sees the young fighter becoming the king of the division at some point.
The latest member of the Lee family to compete in ONE Championship, Adrian will be parading his wares in the lightweight lane, which 'The Warrior' currently rules.
Christian Lee expressed his excitement that his younger brother has decided to join him in the promotion, touting the 18-year-old martial artist as a future world champion.
The double ONE world champion took to Instagram to welcome Adrian Lee, saying:
"I'm so proud to welcome my bro to @onechampionship. The next ONE Lightweight World Champion!"
Lee was a Hawaii high school state champion wrestler, who also boasts of an all-around skills set. He is out to have the same success that Christian and eldest sister Angela, the now-retired former atomweight world champion, have had in ONE Championship.