The end of 2022 has been terrible for the world of MMA (Mixed martial arts). There was indeed the death on December 22 of the American Stephan Bonnar (45), UFC legend, following heart problems. Singapore-based mixed martial arts league One Championship revealed on Sunday that MMA hopeful Victoria Lee also died, aged just 18, on December 26.
His big sister Angela, also an MMA fighter, confirmed his death via an Instagram post “She left too soon and our family has been completely devastated ever since. Life will never be the same again. Victoria was the most beautiful soul that ever lived”.
His next MMA fight was scheduled for January 14
Nicknamed “The Prodigy”, Victoria Lee had made a remarkable debut in the One Championship league, which is very popular in Asia. Double world junior pankration champion (a Greek combat sport) in 2019 and 2020, before embarking on MMA, the young Hawaiian was promised a golden future, just like her sister Angela and her brother Christian Lee, fighters recognized by the One Championship. She had won her three disputed fights so far.
Forced to pause her promising career to continue her studies as well as possible last year, Victoria Lee was to play her next MMA fight on January 14 in Bangkok. It was without counting on his dramatic death the day after Christmas, in conditions which remain unknown.