The loss of Victoria Lee just one day after Christmas 2022 had a profound effect on many in the MMA sphere, most of all her family.
Lee, just 18, was an undefeated ONE Championship star and younger sister of ONE champs Angela (atomweight) and Christian (lightweight and welterweight) Lee.
Neither Lee sibling has competed since the death of Victoria late last year, for obvious reasons. Now, it appears Angela may not return to the cage at all.
In a recent Facebook Watch Q&A (via Beyond Fighting), ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong stated that while Christian Lee has indicated he will return, Angela is unlikely to fight again.
“Angela Lee is likely not coming back due to the loss of her sister. Christian Lee told me that he wants to come back.”
As a result, the atomweight title will be on the line when Stamp Fairtex faces Seo Hee Ham this August. “Stamp and Seo Hee Ham will fight in August for the ONE Atomweight Championship,” Sityodtong said in the same Facebook Watch session.
Stamp earned the fight with Seo Hee Ham at ONE Fight Night 10 in Colorado last month, defeating Alyse Anderson with a nasty body kick KO. A 2021 women’s atomweight grand prix champion, the Thai star, who has held ONE Championship gold in both Muay Thai and kickboxing, previously made an unsuccessful bid for ONE’s atomweight crown in MMA.
Originally, the fight with Ham was expected to be for an interim title. With the questions surrounding Angela Lee’s future, however, it appears the undisputed championship will be on the line.
ONE Championship has yet to officially announce the news.
Back in Colorado, Stamp told media outlets including Cageside Press that Seo Hee Ham was not her toughest foe to date. “Angela Lee is much tougher. The toughest opponent I’ve ever faced was Angela.”
Angela Lee, 26, last fought in October 2022, losing a shot at a second title when she dropped the third fight of her trilogy against Xiong Jing Nan. With a career record of 11-3, the Canadian-born Lee is undefeated as an atomweight.
