Adrian Lee Shares a ONE Combat Evening 40 Preview of His Coaching & Comeback Mindset
At age 19 and turning 20 in March, Adrian Lee is the way forward for his household’s storied MMA legacy. However regardless of state wrestling championships and a scintillating three-fight successful streak with ONE Championship, “The Phenom” is seeking to get again to his successful methods following a disappointing, however maybe crucially precious defeat in opposition to Tye Ruotolo this previous September. M&F sat down with the younger lion to learn how he’s coaching for his return conflict in opposition to Shozo Isojima, days out from their extremely anticipated light-weight bout at ONE Combat Evening 40.
Who Is Adrian Lee?
Because the youngest of the Lee siblings, Adrian has an enormous legacy on his shoulders, however other than joking that he had wished to be a professional gamer, the coed was so in awe of his household’s achievements that he knew he needed to observe their path. After all, Adrian’s sister is Angela Lee, who grew to become the youngest MMA world champion of all time at simply 19 herself, after which there’s his brother Christian Lee, a confidant, coach, and the present ONE champion throughout two weight divisions. Angela and his late sister, Victoria, had been additionally Hawaii State Wrestling champions—a ceremony of passage that Adrian Lee replicated in 2023. “Actually, wrestling and successful that state title was simply one other strategy to simply get some extra expertise,” he tells M&F. “As a result of, ever since I used to be a child, I’ve actually skilled the entire martial arts. I grew up coaching in MMA, kickboxing, boxing, jiu-jitsu, after which after I acquired into highschool, that was one other strategy to get expertise,”
What Adrian Lee Discovered From His First Skilled Loss
By the point Adrian made his debut with ONE Championship on June 7, 2024, he’d already amassed an enviable resume, including a nationwide youth MMA title to his record of accomplishments. The Phenom gained his debut ONE outing and racked up a 3-0 successful streak earlier than a rear bare choke maintain from Tye Ruotolo handed him his first skilled loss, however loads of classes to study. “Actually, after that combat, I took it actual exhausting,” shares Adrian. “Having my first loss, it was… it was actually huge to me, as a result of I hate shedding, and I wished to win, over something, however I believe that, truthfully, I simply determined to maneuver ahead with it, and take as a lot profit out of it as I presumably might. I really feel like my final combat was a humongous studying expertise.”
Throughout that ill-fated combat, Lee confirmed a ton of coronary heart, proving that he can take a pounding and nonetheless get to his ft. The younger fighter is hoping to bounce again stronger when he faces Shozo Isojima (6-1-0) at ONE Combat Evening 40, on Feb. 13 (Feb. 14 in a while zones) “I believe he’s a well-rounded fighter,” Adrian says of Isojima. “He’s additionally coming off that loss with Tye, and I believe he’s a grinder, that’s what I’d name his fashion. He’s in a position to type of simply take guys down, maintain them down, floor and pound. You possibly can’t underestimate these varieties of men.”
Adrian Lee’s Mindset Shift: Staying Calm Beneath Strain
“I believe one factor that has undoubtedly modified rather a lot is my expertise and my potential to type of keep calm,” shares Adrian. “As a result of my very first combat with ONE Championship was one of many scariest issues I’ve ever executed. There was a lot strain. I used to be like, ‘I gotta end them within the first spherical, and, all my siblings completed their opponents of their first spherical, their first fights, however I imply, now I can actually simply take a step again. I do know what to anticipate, I understand how combat week’s going, and so I simply want to remain calm and benefit from the course of.”
Adrian was his personal harshest critic after that first professional defeat, but it surely’s stoked an enormous hearth inside him. “I’ve mainly been in camp since my final combat with Tye, and I’ve been simply closing off any holes, any errors in my recreation, and actually simply making an attempt to good myself as an MMA fighter,” he tells M&F. “Addressing a number of gameplan issues to do particularly for Shozo, however basically being extra full.”
Why 2026 May Be Adrian Lee’s Breakout Yr
“Actually, I like sparring. I like competitors,” shares Adrian, explaining that the bond he has with brother Christian via coaching is one thing that he relishes. “There’s actually nothing that may ever evaluate to the adrenaline I get, or the type of pleasure it brings me, the place me and my brother get rounds. These are, probably the most enjoyable rounds ever, as a result of, you already know, they’re simply so exhausting, I actually like that aggressive side.”
Whereas Adrian is acutely centered on his all-important subsequent combat, the younger upstart can be seeking to make a huge impact in 2026. “Going ahead, I actually need to keep energetic this 12 months. So, the previous two years, I’ve solely had 2 fights per 12 months, however this 12 months, I need to get 4 fights, 5 fights possibly. As a result of, you already know, I’m nonetheless younger, however I actually need to accomplish a lot on this sport, and my physique is wholesome, and I need to simply get an increasing number of fights, extra expertise. I’m so fortunate you already know, to have a double champ brother, champ sister… they’ve created a components that I can observe, and I can belief that it’ll take me to the highest as effectively.”
Adrian “The Phenom” Lee will face Shozo “The Nice Trainer” Isojima in a light-weight MMA contest at ONE Combat Evening 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II, which broadcasts reside in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, February 13.
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