This Friday, September 6, ONE 168: Denver marks a pivotal moment for Singaporean-American Adrian ‘The Phenom’ Lee as he steps onto U.S. soil as a professional MMA fighter for the first time. Facing off against promotional newcomer Nico ‘The Steel City Kid’ Cornejo, this lightweight clash brings a fresh, electrifying energy to the card, as both young fighters are hungry to make their mark in the pro ranks.

But Adrian isn’t just any up-and-comer—he’s the youngest member of the Lee family dynasty. Born into a household that has shaped champions, Adrian has been surrounded by greatness his entire life. His sister, Angela ‘Unstoppable’ Lee, set the bar sky-high when she became the youngest MMA World Champion in ONE history. His brother, Christian ‘The Warrior’ Lee, currently reigns as the ONE Lightweight and Welterweight World Champion. And while the tragic passing of their sister Victoria ‘The Prodigy’ Lee still weighs heavy, Adrian carries the torch of his family’s fighting legacy with pride.

The Lee family’s roots run deep in ONE Championship. Angela and Christian were key in the promotion’s rise to prominence, with Angela’s iconic victory over Mei Yamaguchi in 2016 signaling a new era for the organization. Now, with ONE Championship’s reach extending to 192 countries and making waves in North America, Adrian finds himself on the verge of stepping into the spotlight in a major way.

This weekend, as ONE mounts its second U.S. card, Adrian has the chance to prove that ‘The Phenom’ is ready to live up to his family name. The eyes of Denver and the world will be on him as he looks to put on a performance that cements his own legacy within the Lee family’s storied history. The stakes are high, the pressure is real, but if there’s one thing we know about the Lees—it’s that they were born for moments like this.

Adrian Lee Aims to Make His Family Proud

Lee started training in martial from a very young age, no doubt influenced by what he saw from his siblings. Their father, Ken, was an advocate for always getting his kids into self-defense and combat sports, but he left the choice of competing up to the kids. However, competing professionally was almost inevitable for Adrian, especially with the success of his elder siblings. 

His eldest sister Angela won the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title in 2016. She continued to hold the title until her abrupt retirement in 2023. His older brother, Christian, is currently the reigning ONE Lightweight and Welterweight MMA World Champion. Their sister, Victoria, was also a rising star in this promotion before her untimely death in 2022. So he had a pretty good inspiration from his family members and performed exceptionally in his debut performance.

Following a marvelous run in different martial arts styles as an amateur fighter, Lee finally came into ONE Championship at 17 and made his debut at ONE 167 just this past June. The Prodigy Training Center representative overwhelmed Antonio Mammarella with his lightning-fast takedowns before finishing his opponent in the second round via rear naked choke.

Now, he is coming back for ONE 168 and is excited for a second stint in the promotion. Citing the same, he spoke to ONE Championship and said, “It means a lot to me. I’m extremely excited to have my second fight on U.S. soil because me and my family, we’ve never competed on this level stage in the U.S. before. I’m excited to show the American fans what ONE fighters can do. I can’t wait to show all the American fans how truly ahead of the game we are. The biggest thing I want out of this fight is just to get in there and really make a statement and to show, especially the American fans, how exciting ONE Championship really is.”

Adrian Lee Takes On Undefeated Local Hero Nico Cornejo

Cornejo (2-0) is taking on Lee, who is just two years older than his son. However, the former is not taking his opponent lightly, especially because Lee comes from ONE Championship royalty. ‘The Steel City Kid’ poses a powerful takedown game and dangerous punching power. Cornejo plans to beat his opponent by striking or grappling; whatever Lee decides to opt for. The undefeated pro fighter also plans to have a highlight reel finish for this event with hopes of inspiring more people from Colorado to take part in combat sports.

On the other hand,  the highly touted teen standout, Adrian ‘The Phenom’ Lee, said that he and his team had done their homework on the Colorado native. The 17-year-old is excited to show his full capacity in this fight. No matter where the fight ends up going, Lee is planning on being better than his opponent and will be looking for a finish. He is aiming to put on a memorable show that will have a lasting impression on the audience. 

All in all, both fighters are looking to leave a mark in the combat sports world in the early stages of their professional careers. Are you excited for ONE 168 at Denver on Sep 6?