ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong says he will support Angela and Christian Lee’s decision for their careers, whatever that may be

ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong recently spoke to SCMP MMA on YouTube about the immediate career trajectories of Christian and Angela Lee in ONE Championship. The Lee family suffered a tragic loss when one of their younger siblings, ONE atomweight Victoria Lee, tragically passed away late last year. She was just 18 years old.

Angela Lee currently holds the ONE women's atomweight world title while Christian holds both the lightweight and welterweight world titles. They're both two of the top world champions in the promotion. Despite their importance on ONE's roster, Chatri Sityodtong is not putting any pressure on the siblings to return immediately - or even return at all.

Sityodtong said in the interview:

"I would like them [Angela and Christian] to heal and go at their own pace and own time and decide on whatever they want. If they want to retire, that’s of course, I’m super supportive of it. If they want to continue, I’m super supportive."

Earlier this year, the Lee family decided to permanently close their family-run MMA gym, United MMA Hawaii. In light of this, the immediate future of Angela and Christian's world title reign is still in question.

That, however, is not the most important thing. What's paramount is that the family gets to heal and move on from the pain of losing one of its most precious members. Chatri Sityotong is wise not to put any pressure on Angela and Christian to return and support them on whichever path they choose to move forward.

Watch the full interview below:

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Chatri Sityodtong and Angela Lee expresses desire to create scholarship in Victoria Lee's honor

During the broadcast of ONE Fight Night 6, ONE aired a touching tribute to Victoria Lee. Addressing the crowd at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong gave an emotional tribute to 'Prodigy'. He then proceeded to reveal his plans on making sure that Victoria Lee's legacy lives on:

“I just spoke to Angela yesterday and we want to work together to ensure that Victoria Lee’s legacy lives on. We’re gonna do a scholarship. An award. We’re brainstorming and I want to make sure that Victoria Lee’s kindness, love, selflessness - that is her legacy - and let it live forever. Victoria, I miss you dearly. I know you’re looking from above. Tonight she was supposed to be fighting in the circle. That’s what makes it so heartbreaking.”

Chatri Sityodtong truly is a remarkable fight promoter in that he can relate to his fighters' lives as he is a martial artist as well. Most importantly, however, he is a humane CEO and always treats his fighters as if they're his own blood. Here's to hoping his and Angela Lee's planned scholarship will produce more prodigies in the future.

Watch ONE's tribute to Victoria Lee here: