ONE Championship Atomweight Champion the “Unstoppable” Angela Lee has retired from the world of mixed martial arts at the age of 27.

She announced her decision at ONE: Fight Night 14 on September 30th, 2023.

The decision to retire came after the death of her younger 18-year-old sister Victoria, who tragically took her own life in December of 2022. Lee has had her own struggles with mental health as well. She tried to take her own life in 2017 by crashing her car.

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Lee was born into martial arts. Lee’s parents Ken and Jewelz Lee were both martial artists. She began training at the age of 6 and by the age of 7 her family moved to Hawaii.

Lee won her division at the USA Amateur Pankration National Championships in 2011 and in 2012 also won her division at the World Pangration Athlima Federation World Championships in Greece. In 2018, she earned her black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

She made her mixed martial debut in 2014. In November, she defeated Audrey Perkins in Honolulu to become the Destiny Strawweight Champion. Lee signed with ONE Championship the same year.

Angela Lee had her first fight under the promotion on May 22, 2015, at ONE Championship 28: Warrior’s Quest. She defeated Aya Saber by submission with an armbar in the first round. It was after this victory, that she moved to Singapore and joined Team Evolve MMA.

Lee beat her first 5 opponents all by submission. On May 6, 2016 ONE Championship introduced the company’s Women’s Atomweight Championship Title. The initial match was Angela Lee vs Mei Yamaguchi at ONE: Ascent to Power. Lee would go to be win the fight by unanimous decision and become the first ever Champion. That bout with Yamaguchi earned Lee 2016 Fight of the Year.

She would go on the defend the title 5 times over the next 7 years. Her title defense against Stamp Fairtex at ONE: X in 2022, netted her a second MMA Fight of the Year.

Lee’s trilogy fights against Xiong Jing Nan at Atomweight and Strawweight, is one of the best series in the ONE Championship history.

Angela Lee finishes her career with a record of 11 wins and 3 losses.

8 wins by submission, 1 win by KO, and 1 win by decision.

– Sean McKenzie

Photo Courtesy of ONE Championship.