Adrian Lee was hoping to get things done in the first round against Antonio Mammarella, but he's more than willing to settle for a second-round finish.
Making both his ONE Championship and professional mixed martial arts debut inside the sold-out Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, the youngest of the Lee family kickstarted a new legacy with a spectacular submission victory over the Italian standout at ONE 167.
Speaking with Mitch Chilson immediately following his big win, Lee had hoped to make a big statement by ending things in the first five, though he couldn't complain about earning a win in the second stanza.
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"To be honest, I actually planned to finish it in the first round, but it’s okay," Lee said during his post-fight interview inside the Circle. "Second round’s good too."
After earning a slew of accolades as an amateur, Adrian Lee got his ONE Championship career off on the right foot. Now the question is, what's next for the 18-year-old prospect?
Adrian Lee earns 50k for his big win over Antonio Mammarella at ONE 167
Though he may not have been happy with getting a finish in the second round as opposed to the first, the rear-naked choke finish was more than enough to earn him a big $50,000 bonus from ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Showing his appreciation for the extra stack of cash, Lee promised to bag his next win even faster than the first.
"Thank you Mr. Chatri! That's great, that's awesome! Thank you to all the fans that came out to support me and watch me fight, I promise the next time will be faster."
If you missed any of the action, ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch the ONE 167 replay on demand via Amazon Prime Video.