At ONE Fight Night 14 in Singapore, atomweight champion Angela Lee made her final walk to the ONE circle.
At 27, Angela Lee has faced trials that most can scarcely imagine. She revealed that her widely reported 2017 vehicle accident was really the consequence of a failed s**cide attempt.
Lee also reaffirmed what many people connected to the sport already knew: that her sister Victoria Lee too, committed suicide. Victoria was only 18 years old and was a fellow ONE Championship competitor who tragically passed away in December.
In a heartwrenching video package played at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and broadcasted live on Amazon Prime Video, Angela introduced ‘Fight Story.’ It is a non-profit organization founded in Victoria’s memory. The organization’s mission is to provide support to those battling mental health issues.
Angela Lee shared with the crowd in Singapore that the past year had been the most challenging of her life. She expressed her determination to gradually “pick up the pieces and move forward slowly” with Fight Story playing an instrumental role in her healing journey.
She said: “Fight Story was created because of my sister Victoria. I’m choosing to honor her and her life by moving forward and helping others. Our mission at Fight Story is to save lives”
Angela then gently placed her cherished championship belt in the cage and announced her retirement. She said: “The greatest battle we will ever face won’t be with an opponent standing in front of us. The greatest battle will be within ourselves. We all go through struggles, but we all fight. And each day, we are victorious when we choose to rise up in the face of adversity.”
Angela’s ascent in ONE Championship began in 2015, marking her professional debut with the organization she would call home throughout her career. She embarked on a stellar 9-0 run, delivering a remarkable Twister submission in only her third professional bout. She won the ONE atomweight championship in 2016 and promptly made three successful title defenses.
In 2019, Angela ventured into the strawweight division as she wanted a second title. She competed against Xiong Jing Nan but was unsuccessful.
Returning to atomweight, she won against China’s Xiong in their rematch and secured the championship belt. She later submitted Stamp Fairtex and became the winner of the ONE atomweight grand prix.
Angela Lee concludes her MMA journey as the reigning ONE Championship atomweight titleholder, undefeated in the atomweight division.
Beyond her athletic pursuits, Angela married fellow ONE combatant Bruno Pucci in 2018. The couple welcomed a daughter into the world in 2021.