Angela Lee embarks on a new chapter in her martial arts journey.
The seasoned ONE Championship luminary bid adieu to her MMA career and relinquished her ONE 115-pound title during ONE Fight Night 14 in Singapore on Friday. Lee's decision follows her recent revelation in a poignant Players Tribune essay, where she disclosed that her 2017 car accident was actually a suicide attempt and that her 18-year-old sister, Victoria Lee, tragically took her own life in 2022.
The emotional toll weighed heavily on Lee and was the catalyst for her decision to hang up her gloves and call an end to her illustrious fighting career.
"This year has been the most challenging year of my life," a visibly emotional Lee expressed. "I'm doing my utmost to piece things together and move forward."
"Today, I'm here to officially announce my retirement. It has been an extraordinary eight years. I just want to extend my gratitude to the fans, to ONE Championship, to Chatri [Sityodtong], to my teams, and to everyone. There have been numerous battles, both inside and outside the cage.
"The final thing I want to impart is this: To the fighters and to everyone watching right now, the most formidable battle we'll ever face won't be against an adversary standing before us. The greatest battle lies within ourselves. We all grapple with hardships, but we all endure. And every day, we triumph when we choose to stand tall in the face of adversity. So thank you all so much; I love you. Thank you."
Born into a family deeply entrenched in martial arts, Lee commenced her journey by participating in Pankration tournaments and immersing herself in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from a tender age. Her evolution eventually led her to the realm of MMA, where she inked a contract with ONE Championship at the young age of 18. She wasted no time making her mark within the organization.
Lee embarked on her professional career with a blistering five consecutive victories and secured the inaugural ONE 115-pound championship in 2016 at a mere 19 years old. She went on to defend her title successfully on five separate occasions and ventured into the 125-pound weight class for various compelling matchups.
Her final bout took place in October 2022, culminating in a decision loss to the reigning ONE 125-pound champion, Xiong Jingnan, in a trilogy that saw both fighters claim a victory in previous encounters.
Following her sister's heartbreaking passing, Lee took an extended hiatus from the sport. Although ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong had hinted at the possibility of her retirement, it wasn't until Friday that an official decision was reached. Lee's current aspiration is to collaborate with FightStory, a nonprofit organization she founded in honor of Victoria, which advocates for individuals sharing their personal stories related to mental health.
"FightStory was established because of my sister, Victoria, and I am choosing to honor her and her legacy by pressing forward and assisting others," Lee affirmed.
Angela Lee concludes her remarkable career with a record of 11 wins and 3 losses, remaining undefeated at the 115-pound weight class.
In the wake of her retirement, Stamp Fairtex secured the vacant 115-pound title with a ferocious body punch that led to a third-round victory over UFC veteran Seo Hee Ham at ONE Fight Night 14.