MMA sensation Victoria Lee passes away at 18: Details
What's the story
Rising mixed martial arts sensation Victoria Lee has passed away at 18.
Her elder sister Angela, the reigning ONE women's atomweight world champion, shared the devastating news in an Instagram post on Saturday (January 7).
As per the post, Victoria died on December 26 last year. However, the reason for her demise wasn't revealed.
Here are further details.
Details
Victoria was touted as a future world champion
Victoria, who hails from the United States, made a sensational start to her professional career and the same earned her the title 'The Prodigy.'
She was even tipped to be an MMA world champion in the making.
MMA was in her veins as her older sisters Angela and Christian, the ONE lightweight and welterweight world champion, also made a significant mark in the discipline.
Career
A look at her career
Victoria made her debut on February 26, 2021, at ONE: Fists of Fury.
She shone straightaway, defeating Sunisa Srisen by submission.
Victoria Lee followed it up with another submission victory over Wang Luping in July of the same year.
In her last fight, which took place on September 24, 2021, at ONE: Revolution, she got the better of Victoria Souza by technical knockout (punches).
Details
More details about Victoria
Victoria Sun-hei Lee was born on May 17, 2004, in Wahiawa, Hawaii.
Her father Ken Lee, who is a Chinese-Singaporean, was also her coach.
She lived in Mililani alongside her parents and siblings.
Notably, her younger brother Adrian Lee, 17, is also an aspiring MMA fighter.
He even won an amateur MMA title in Hilo, Hawaii, in December last year.
Post
Angela expresses grief in her post
As mentioned above, Angela revealed Victoria's demise through an emotional post.
"On December 26, 2022, our family experienced something no family should ever have to go through... It is incredibly difficult to say this...Our Victoria passed away," she wrote.
"She has gone too soon and our family has been completely devastated since then. We miss her," added Angela.
Information
ONE chairman pays tribute
ONE chairman Chatri Sityodtong was among many to pay a rich tribute to Lee. "I first met Victoria when she was 11 years old. I watched her blossom over the years as a martial artist and a human being," Chatri Sityodtong wrote on Facebook.
Information
Victoria to be buried on January 22
The MMA sensation will be buried on January 22 after a celebration-of-life ceremony at the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Hawaii. The same was mentioned in an obituary posted at the venue.