Adrian Lee says “he learned the whole process” to glory cornering older siblings Angela and Christian to ONE world titles
Teenage MMA prospect Adrian Lee learned a lot just by watching his big brother and sister inside the Circle.
In June, the 18-year-old sensation made his ONE Championship debut as part of the promotion's loaded ONE 167 card in Bangkok. There, Lee scored a slick second-round submission victory over Australian standout Antonio Mammarella and quickly established himself as the next big thing in MMA.
On Friday, September 6, Lee will go for his second win in as many fights when he meets newcomer Nico Cornejo at ONE 168: Denver.
During a recent interview with ESPN Honolulu, Lee offered some insight into his training and how he learned a lot about the fight game just by observing and cornering his siblings — in particular, current two-division ONE lightweight and welterweight MMA world champion Christian Lee and former atomweight queen Angela Lee.
"I learned a lot from watching my siblings fight," Lee said. "I learned the whole process and what it took to dig deep to win those fights."
Follow this link for tickets for ONE 168: Denver on September 6 at Ball Arena.
Can Adrian Lee live up to the legacy of his iconic MMA family?
Adrian Lee hopes to continue the legacy of his big brother and sister, who are considered to be two of the most prolific finishers in ONE Championship history.
First to debut was Angela Lee, who became the youngest world champion in MMA history when she defeated Mei Yamaguchi at ONE: Ascent to Power. She was only 19 years old at the time. Over the next seven years, she would successfully defend the title five times and compete for the strawweight crown on two separate occasions.
She retired in September 2023 with 11 career victories, including nine submissions and one by way of KO.
As for Christian Lee, the reigning ONE lightweight and welterweight world champion will make his long-awaited return to the Circle on Friday, November 8 when the promotion makes its debut inside State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia for ONE 169.
Lee, who has 16 finishes against 17 wins, will defend his title against Turkish grappler Alibeg Rasulov.
Will Adrian Lee be able to live up to the legacy? He's already off to a pretty good start. On September 6, we'll see if he can take that next step toward greatness.