Teenage sensation Adrian Lee once again proved to the world at ONE 168: Denver that he is here to stay for the long run. Lee displayed his aggressive style of fighting in front of a packed crowd in Ball Arena, Colorado. With his latest victory, the 18-year-old remains unbeaten in his professional MMA career with back-to-back finishes to start it with. “The Phenom,” during his post-fight media interaction, took out time to thank his brother Christian Lee for his impressive run at ONE Championship.

He also pointed out how his last two opponents, Antonio Mammarella and Nico Cornejo, helped him in his journey. The clip was shared on YouTube on Nick Atkin’s ONE Championship News channel, where Lee said, “Of course, I would say, my brother. Because he’s my main training partner and he’s always been there for me. I would say Antonio Mamarella and Nico Cornejo did had a big part and is going to have a big part in my career. Because all these fighters are building my experience and making me a better experienced fighter”. Let us take a closer look at how the 18-year-old defeated a veteran fighter. 

Adrian Lee makes easy work of Nico Cornejo at ONE 168: Denver 

Adrian Lee impressed one and all when he took on Antonio Mammarella in his MMA debut clash at ONE 167. Lee seemed absolutely unstoppable on that night and managed to win the fight via submission in the second round. The 18-year-old continued with the same intensity in the recently concluded event in Denver, where he walked past the challenge of Nico Cornejo. Cornejo is known for his exceptional grappling skills and is also a lethal striker, but Lee proved too much to handle for him that night.

He overwhelmed ‘The Steel City Kid’ from the beginning of the fight itself and was able to take his back early. From there on, it was all downhill for the debutant fighter as Lee made multiple submission attempts and rained down powerful strikes. Cornejo eventually succumbed to the pressure at the 2:37 mark of the opening round after ‘The Phenom’ submitted him via a rear-naked choke. Lee is now unbeaten in his last two fights and is all geared up for his future challenges. 

Following a decorated run as an amateur fighter, Lee finally got the opportunity to compete in the ONE Championship at ONE 167. However, the role of his family members in his growth has been massive. He comes from a family of fighters and is looking to maintain their legacy. Let us take a closer look at the journey of the 18-year-old. 

Is Adrian Lee the next big thing in the world of MMA? 

With the way Adrian Lee has started his career, there is no doubt that he has the potential to achieve massive success. However, a lot of credit needs to go to his parents for introducing him to the sport very early. The future is bright for the Prodigy Training Center athlete, and he has role models to look up to in the family itself. His eldest sister, Angela Lee, needs no introduction and is one of the legends of the sport. She won the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title in 2016 and held it until her retirement in 2023. 

Talking about his brother Christian Lee, he is the reigning ONE Lightweight and Welterweight MMA World Champion. The two-division champion is returning to action at ONE 169: Atlanta after a gap of two years and will be defending his lightweight strap against Alibeg Rasulov. ‘The Phenom’ is still new to the sport and has a lot to achieve in his career. However, with guides like Christian Lee and Angela Lee, the 18-year-old can definitely be one of the biggest stars in the sport.

The fans will now be hoping to see him supporting his brother at ONE 169: Atlanta when he defends his lightweight title. How highly do you rate Adrian Lee as a fighter? Let us know about it in the comments below.