ONE CEO gives emotional tribute to Victoria Lee at press conference

ONE Championship and the combat sports community as a whole continue to mourn the loss of the sport's biggest smile and brightest prodigy. Victoria Lee, the younger sister of MMA superstars Christian and Angela Lee, tragically passed away. She was 18 years old.

Appropriately nicknamed ‘The Prodigy,’ Lee was a budding young star who had already secured three victories inside the circle before graduating high school. By all accounts, Lee was focused on training to resume her combat sports career in 2023 when tragedy struck late last month. ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong spoke on Lee’s passing during the ONE Fight Night 6 on Prime Video press conference this week, saying:

“I’ve known Victoria since she was 11 years old. Yes, she was the greatest martial arts prodigy. A rising star. But more than that, she was a beautiful soul and she was wise beyond her years. I remember thinking to myself many times, ‘She’s so smart, so wise, so kind, and so selfless.’”

Debuting for the promotion at just 17, Lee earned three straight victories in a seven-month span, earning back-to-back submissions against Sunisa Srisen and Wang Luping. Her last bout inside the circle came in September 2021, where she delivered a showstopping second-round knockout against Victoria Souza.

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ONE Championship CEO shows appreciation for the outpouring of support

Continuing to speak at the press event, Chatri Sityodtong shared his appreciation for the overwhelming support and love that news outlets around the world have received.

“The widespread outpouring of love from all over the world these last few days, literally every major news outlet around the world from CNN, to ESPN, to Sports Illustrated, even in the UK, all around the world -- it’s a reflection of who Victoria was as a person, as an athlete, and as a hero. Her legacy will live forever.”

Anyone who ever heard Victoria Lee talk or simply followed her on social media could see that she had a deep love for her family. Regularly pictured with her “two favorite little people in the whole wide,” Lee left a mark on the soul of every person she came in contact with, even if it was only for a moment. She may be gone in the physical world, but her spirit will live on in the friends, family, and fans around the world that she leaves behind.

“I’ve really been deeply affected, heartbroken, and lost ever since Angela [Lee] called me with the news,” Sityodtong concluded.