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As the year 2022 drew to a close, the world of MMA suffered a devastating loss! It was the untimely passing of one of its most promising rising stars, Victoria Lee. At just 18 years old, Victoria Lee had made a name for herself in the realm of MMA. Born in Wahiawa, Hawaii, Victoria Lee was a fighter who embodied diversity in every sense of the word.

With Korean-Canadian and Chinese-Singaporean heritage, her journey transcended borders and cultures, resonating with fans worldwide. As she embarked on her promising career, she had recently joined the prestigious ONE Championship. Further, countless fans and pundits acknowledged Lee as one of the best MMA fighters of the future. But as fate would have it, her MMA career and life was tragically cut short!

Victoria Lee’s MMA record – When did she start fighting?

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In a groundbreaking move, Lee inked her first contract with the ONE Championship on September 30, 2020, when she was just 16 years old. This catapulted herself into the record books as the youngest fighter ever to join the prestigious organisation. Her debut in the ONE Championship took place on February 26, 2021, at the ONE Championship 129: Fists Of Fury event. In this bout, Victoria Lee displayed her exceptional skills, securing victory in the second round with a textbook rear naked choke.

Further, Lee’s momentum continued to build as she stepped into the cage once again on July 30, 2021, at the ONE Championship 139: Battleground event. Here, she faced Wang Luping, clinching a first-round victory with a submission via a triangle armbar. One of the defining moments of her career came on September 24, 2021, when she squared off against Victoria Souza. In this thrilling encounter, Lee showcased her ground-and-pound skills, ultimately sealing her triumph with a second-round victory.

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In 2022, Victoria Lee took a temporary hiatus from her burgeoning MMA career. This was to focus on graduating from high school. However, she was slated to make her return to the cage against Zeba Bano on January 14, 2023.

Angela Lee, Christian Lee: A family of champions!

It isn’t wrong to say that phenomenal MMA skills were in Lee’s genes. Her father, Ken Lee, holds three black belts in different martial arts. Moreover, this includes a 1st degree black belt in BJJ. Moreover, her mother also holds a 5th degree Hapdosool Master Black Belt.

Further, Victoria Lee’s elder sister Angela Lee is the current ONE Atomweight World Champion. With an impressive record of 11-3, the elder Lee sister is often considered one of the best women MMA fighters in the world. To add more to the Lee family’s rich heritage, Christian Lee, Victoria’s elder brother, is also a ONE FC champion. At 25 years of age, Christian is the current ONE Lightweight and ONE Welterweight World Champion.

Bruno Pucci, Angela Lee’s husband is also a BJJ expert and an MMA fighter. The entire family trained at the Lee family gym in Hawaii. However, after Victoria’s death, the gym has been closed permanently.

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How did Victoria Lee pass away?

Victoria Lee tragically passed away on 26th December 2022. However, the news came out much later, on January 7, 2023, when her sister confirmed this news. In an Instagram post, Angela crafted an emotional message for her sister.

Initially, the cause of her death remained unknown. It wasn’t until very recently that the reason behind her passing was revealed. A few days ago, Angela Lee wrote a candid article for ‘The Players Tribune’, where she disclosed her personal struggles.

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In the emotional piece, she also revealed that her sister, Victoria Lee, took her own life. More details about this matter are currently unknown. The entire MMA community will always remember Victoria Lee as one of the most impressive MMA prospects to step foot in the cage.