“MMA is a completely different sport” - Antonio Mammarella unbothered by Adrian Lee’s impressive amateur credentials

Antonio Mammarella isn't putting much stock into Adrian Lee's amateur accolades.

On Friday, June 7, highly touted 18-year-old prospect Adrian Lee will make his ONE Championship debut, following in the footsteps of his iconic siblings, including former atomweight queen Angela Lee, current two-division ONE world champion Christian Lee, and the late Victoria Lee.

Training from the moment he could walk, Lee has scored a slew of amateur titles over the years. He also won the 2023 state wrestling title in his native Hawaii.

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However, none of that means anything to Mammarella who brings with him his amateur credentials and an experience advantage in MMA competition. Speaking to ONE, Mammarella said:

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“I have strong amateur MMA experience. I fought the best in Italy, trained under the guidance of the best MMA, wrestling, and BJJ coaches in Italy. It’s good to compete in wrestling and jiu-jitsu, but MMA is a completely different sport.”

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Antonio Mammarella unfazed by the pressure of fighting Adrian Lee at ONE 167

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Antonio Mammarella went 5-3 as an amateur before making the transition. As a professional mixed martial artist, the MMA Family Fight Team product scored a second-round knockout in his pro debut at the Hiva Nui Tournament in French Polynesia.

Of course, that's a far cry from the pressure that comes with competing on martial arts' biggest global stage, but it's nothing that Mammarella isn't prepared to handle. He added:

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"It's just another day in the office. Surely, it's going to be the biggest show I've been part of, but it's all part of the job, and I'm ready for this."

Will Mammarella spoil Adrian Lee's big pro-MMA debut, or will ONE Championship fans witness the rise of a new legacy in the legendary Lee family?

ONE 167 will emanate from the iconic Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, June 7. The event will air exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in both the United States and Canada in U.S. primetime.

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