Victoria Lee, Hawaiian Rising MMA Star, Dies at 18

Family members have confirmed the passing of Victoria Lee, one of the world's most promising young mixed martial arts fighters. Lee was only 18 years old.

"She has gone too soon, and our family has been completely devastated since then," her sister Angela Lee wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday.

Victoria Lee grew up in Hawaii, where her family has a long mixed martial arts history.

Angela is the current atomweight champion of ONE Championship, Asia's biggest MMA promotion, while her brother Christian Lee is the current lightweight champion.

Victoria Lee, often known as "The Prodigy," was predicted to follow in her siblings' footsteps and become a world champion.

The Guardian noted that she also won the junior world title in the updated version of an ancient Greek wrestling style called pankration.

Although she started in ONE with three consecutive victories, she took a break in 2022 to focus on finishing high school. Victoria Lee's cause of death has not been confirmed as of this moment.

One Championship CEO Paid Tribute to Victoria Lee

Victoria Lee, who made her professional debut in 2021 and went unbeaten in her first three fights, was honored by ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong, according to CBS News.

"I am heartbroken by Victoria Lee's passing," Sityodtong said in a Facebook post.

Sityodtong said that Victoria was just eleven when he met her, stating that he saw her develop both as a martial artist and a person over the years.

He also said that Victoria was mature beyond her years as she was considerate of others and put their needs before her own, claiming that he could tell that she was more than just a martial arts prodigy.

"May you rest in peace, Victoria. We will all miss you," he wrote.

Victoria Lee MMA Career

Victoria Lee, a wrestler for Mililani High School in Hawaii, won the 2020 state title at 117 pounds. She has won junior world titles in Hawaiian pankration and the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation, Kiro 7 reported.

At 16, she joined her two older brothers at ONE Championship and signed her first professional MMA contract.

Victoria won her first professional mixed martial arts match in less than two minutes, submitting Sunisa Srisen of Thailand with a rear-naked choke in February of 2021, per South China Morning.

Then, she fought for the second time in July.

In less than four minutes, she submitted Wang Luping of China with an armbar for another swift submission win.

Two months later, she made her third trip to the ONE Championship Circle with a first-round technical knockout victory over Brazilian opponent Victoria Souza.

It was reported that her next MMA fight would be on January 14 versus Zeba Bano at ONE Championship in the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

TODAY noted that Victoria Lee is survived by her parents, Ken and Jewelz Lee, her sister Angela, 26, her brothers Christian, 24, and Adrian, 17, and her one-year-old niece Ava, whom Angela shares with her husband, Bruno Pucci.

According to a death notice published by Valley of the Temples Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Kanahe, Hawaii, a memorial service will be held on January 22.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Victoria 'The Prodigy' Lee: rising MMA star dies at 18 - From Guardian Sport