Victoria Lee
BornVictoria Sun-hei Lee
(2004-05-17)May 17, 2004
Wahiawa, Hawaii, U.S.
DiedDecember 26, 2022(2022-12-26) (aged 18)
Hawaii, U.S.
NicknameThe Prodigy[1]
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)[2]
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)[3]
DivisionStrawweight
Atomweight[4]
StylePankration, Wrestling, BJJ, Muay Thai, Taekwondo
Fighting out ofKatong, Singapore[5]
TeamUnited MMA[6]
Evolve MMA[7]
Teacher(s)Ken Lee (Wrestling)[8]
Bruno Pucci (BJJ)[9]
Rank  Purple belt in BJJ[10]
Years active2019–2022[11]
Mixed martial arts record
Total3
Wins3
By knockout1
By submission2
Losses0
Notable relativesAngela Lee (sister)
Christian Lee (brother)
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Representing
 United States
Women's Pankration
Junior World Champion
Gold medal – first place 2020 Hawaii −57 kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 Hawaii −57 kg
Women's Wrestling
IMMAF Junior World Champion
Gold medal – first place 2019 Hawaii[12] −57 kg
IMMAF Junior State Champion
Gold medal – first place 2020 Hawaii[13] −57 kg
Last updated on: August 2, 2021 (2021-08-02)

Victoria Sun-hei Lee (May 17, 2004 – December 26, 2022) was an American mixed martial artist who competed in ONE Championship.

Early life

Victoria Sun-hei Lee[14] was born in Wahiawa, Hawaii,[15] on May 17, 2004,[16] the daughter of Korean-Canadian mother Jewelz Lee and Chinese-Singaporean father Ken Lee.[17][18] She was the younger sister of fellow MMA fighters Angela Lee[19] and Christian Lee.[20]

Career

Lee was a two-time Hawaiian Pankration Junior World Champion, Hawaii State Wrestling Champion, and IMMAF Junior World Champion.[21][22][23] She trained at United MMA Gym in Hawaii under her brother-in-law Bruno Pucci and was supported by Evolve MMA.[24][25]

On September 30, 2020, at the age of 16, Lee signed a contract to fight in the Atomweight division of the ONE Championship,[26][27][28] becoming its youngest fighter.[29][30][31][32][33][34] On February 26, 2021, she made her first fight in the ONE Championship 129: Fists Of Fury event, where she defeated Sunisa Srisan in the second round via rear naked choke.[35][36][37]

On July 30, 2021, she made her second fight against Wang Luping in the ONE Championship 139: Battleground event, which she won by submission with a triangle armbar in the first round.[38][39][40]

Lee faced Victoria Souza at ONE Championship 143: Revolution on September 24, 2021.[41] She won the bout in the second round via ground and pound.[42]

In 2022, Lee paused her MMA career to focus on graduating from high school.[43] She was slated to return with a bout against Zeba Bano at ONE Fight Night 6 in Bangkok on January 14, 2023.[44][45]

Death

Lee died in Hawaii on December 26, 2022, at the age of 18, but her death was not revealed until her older sister Angela announced it via Instagram on January 7, 2023.[14][46] Although a cause of death was not initially given, Angela later wrote an article for The Players' Tribune, entitled "Resilient", on the subject, announcing that Victoria took her own life.[47] The Lees shut down their family-owned MMA training facility in Waipahu, Hawaii, and said it would remain permanently closed.[48]

Achievements

Gold 2020 Pankration Junior World Champion, Hawaii (−57 kg)[49]

Gold 2019 Pankration Junior World Champion, Hawaii (−57 kg)[50]

Gold 2019 IMMAF Wrestling Junior World Champion, Hawaii (−57 kg)[51]

Gold 2020 IMMAF Wrestling Junior State Champion, Hawaii (−57 kg)[52]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
3 matches 3 wins 0 losses
By knockout 1 0
By submission 2 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 3–0 Victória Souza TKO (punches) ONE: Revolution September 24, 2021 2 3:58 Kallang, Singapore
Win 2–0 Wang Luping Submission (triangle armbar) ONE: Battleground July 30, 2021 1 3:22 Kallang, Singapore
Win 1–0 Sunisa Srisan Submission (rear-naked choke) ONE: Fists Of Fury February 26, 2021 2 1:03 Kallang, Singapore

[53]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Victoria Lee Profile". Sherdog. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "Victoria Lee". MMA-Core. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Victoria Lee | MMA Junkie". Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Taylor, Tom (February 26, 2021). "ONE Championship: 16-year-old Victoria Lee wins MMA debut, submits Sunisa Srisen". | BJPenn.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  5. ^ "ONE Championship's 17 Year Old Victoria Lee". Black Belt Magazine. July 28, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  6. ^ "Bagi Waktu Antara Sekolah & MMA, Victoria Lee Siap Kembali Berlaga". kumparan (in Indonesian). Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Silfen, Jack (September 17, 2020). "ONE Championship adds Victoria Lee to its roster". Sportskeeda.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  8. ^ "Hawaii's teen 'prodigy' Victoria Lee makes pro debut Friday morning with ONE Championship". KHON2. February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "5 Reasons To Get Excited About Victoria Lee". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. September 23, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "16 yr Old Victoria Lee Follows in Sibling's Footsteps with Submission Victory in ONE MMA Debut". Bjj Eastern Europe. February 28, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Victoria Lee '100 percent focused' on MMA career". Cctv-america.tv. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  12. ^ "Teenage Mixed Martial Arts Prodigy Victoria Lee Signs with ONE Championship". Fightbookmma.com. September 17, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  13. ^ "Meet the 'bad a**' 16yo phenom who is set to be the next huge MMA star". Fox Sports. September 19, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Atkin, Nicholas; Taylor, Tom (January 8, 2023). "ONE Championship's Victoria Lee dies at 18 years old". South China Morning Post. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  15. ^ Altatis, Conan (September 17, 2020). "ONE Championship signs Victoria Lee, younger sister of Angela Lee, Christian Lee". CONAN Daily. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  16. ^ Nicolas, Atkin (January 9, 2023). "Victoria Lee: the story of ONE's Prodigy who died at 18". South China Morning Post. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  17. ^ "Victoria Lee admits nerves got best of her in ONE Championship debut, wants quick finish of Wang Luping". MMA Junkie. July 28, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  18. ^ "17-Year-Old MMA Phenom Victoria Lee Returning To Circle At ONE: BATTLEGROUND". Yahoo! News. July 20, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  19. ^ Chinen, Kyle (September 18, 2020). "Mililani's Victoria Lee joins her siblings and signs with ONE Championship". Hawaiinewsnow.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  20. ^ "ONE: Fists of Fury: Victoria Lee makes her MMA debut against Sunisa Srisen". MMA Crossfire. February 3, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  21. ^ "5 Minutes With Pro MMA Fighter Victoria Lee – L'Officiel". Lofficielsingapore.com. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  22. ^ "The Lee fighting dynasty continues, 16-year-old Victoria Lee set for pro MMA debut". Kitv.com. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  23. ^ "Beast in the cage, shy teen off the stage: What this 16-year-old pro MMA fighter is really like". AsiaOne. March 10, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  24. ^ Dawson, Alan. "A 16-year-old American from a famous fighting family made a submission statement on her MMA debut". Insider. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  25. ^ Gonzalez, Gabriel (July 28, 2021). "ONE Championship: Battleground's Victoria Lee Reveals When She Knew MMA Would Be Career". Cageside Press. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  26. ^ "Prodigy Victoria Lee is ready to make her own mark". ESPN. February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  27. ^ "Victoria Lee". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  28. ^ "Victoria Lee | MMA Junkie". Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  29. ^ "ONE: Victoria Lee reveals 'bad toast' nearly ruined MMA debut". South China Morning Post. March 10, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  30. ^ "MMA: Victoria Lee, 16, wins by submission on her One Championship debut". The Straits Times. February 26, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  31. ^ "Can Victoria Lee Become the Best Lee Yet?". Mmasucka.com. July 20, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  32. ^ "Victoria Lee signs with ONE Championship | Asian MMA". AsianMMA. September 17, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  33. ^ Bowker, Dylan (July 4, 2021). "Victoria Lee signs contract for 2nd ONE Championship bout". MyMMANews.com. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  34. ^ "Victoria Lee hoping to emulate her siblings with ONE Championship success | Asian MMA". AsianMMA. September 26, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  35. ^ "ONE Championship: Victoria Lee, 16, gets slick debut submission". South China Morning Post. February 26, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  36. ^ "Victoria Lee Impresses In MMA Debut, Finishes Sunisa Srisen". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. February 26, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  37. ^ Farhan, Faris (February 4, 2021). "ONE Championship: FISTS OF FURY – Victoria LEE Debut Fight on February 26". Singapore Strike Sports. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  38. ^ "Victoria Lee Stays Perfect With First-Round Finish Of Wang Luping". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  39. ^ Martin, Damon (July 29, 2021). "17-year-old Victoria Lee embraces the pressure preparing for her second pro fight and her senior year of high school". MMA Fighting. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  40. ^ "MMA: Victoria Lee, Ritu Phogat carve out dominant wins at One: Battleground event". The Straits Times. July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  41. ^ "Christian Lee, Victoria Lee share card at ONE Championship: Revolution". MMA Junkie. August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  42. ^ "ONE Championship: Revolution results – Rae Yoon Ok stuns Christian Lee to win title, Lee calls 'bullsh*t' on decision". MMA Junkie. September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  43. ^ Church, Ben (January 9, 2023). "Rising MMA star Victoria Lee dies at 18". CNN. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  44. ^ Atkin, Nicolas (January 12, 2023). "ONE plans Victoria Lee tribute, will 'honour her legacy forever'". South China Morning Post. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  45. ^ Damon Martin (November 15, 2022). "18-year-old Victoria Lee set to return to action against Zeba Bano at ONE on Prime Video 6". mmafighting.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  46. ^ Nolan King (January 7, 2023). "ONE Championship rising star Victoria Lee dead at 18". USA Today. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  47. ^ Lee, Angela (September 19, 2023). "Resilient". The Players' Tribune. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  48. ^ Atkin, Nicolas (January 9, 2023). "Victoria Lee family's MMA gym 'permanently closes' after death at 18". South China Morning Post. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  49. ^ "Teenage Prodigy Victoria Lee Joins Siblings In ONE Championship". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. September 16, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  50. ^ "Teen MMA prodigy Victoria Lee joins ONE Championship". Rappler. September 18, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  51. ^ "MMA: Victoria Lee, 16, sister of world champs Angela and Christian Lee, signs with One Championship". The Straits Times. September 17, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  52. ^ Urapeepatanapong, Pontakorn (September 26, 2020). "Victoria Lee Wants To Make ONE Championship Debut This Year". Asian Persuasion MMA. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  53. ^ "Victoria Lee | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved August 1, 2021.

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