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Rising American MMA star Victoria ‘The Prodigy’ Lee dies at the age of 18 with her ONE World Champion sister, Angela, paying tribute to the ‘most beautiful girl, inside and out’
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Rising MMA star Victoria Lee died at the age of 18 last month, her family confirmed. No cause of death was given.
Lee was one of the most promising mixed martial artists in the world and had earned the nickname ‘The Prodigy’.
The Hawaiian native comes from a strong MMA pedigree with her sister, Angela, holding the ONE Championship Atomweight World Title, while her brother, Christian, is the ONE Lightweight Champion.
Rising MMA star Victoria Lee died at the age of 18 last month, her family confirmed
Lee’s sister confirmed that he had passed away on December 26 in an Instagram post.
Angela wrote: ‘On December 26, 2022 our family experienced something no family should ever go through… This is incredibly hard to say… Our Victoria passed away.
He is gone too soon and our family has been completely devastated ever since.
‘We miss her … [m]more than anything in this world. Our family will never be the same. Life will never be the same. Victoria was the most beautiful soul that ever lived. She was the best little sister in the world. The best daughter, the best granddaughter and the best godmother/aunt to Ava and Alia.
‘We miss you so much sister. More than you could imagine. We are all broken. Because a piece of you was in each of us and when you left, those pieces were ripped from us. We will never be the same.
Lee’s sister, Angela, posted a photo of Victoria on Instagram, sharing an emotional statement.
Each and every little thing makes me think of you. From the rays of the sun, to the sunset. You taught us to see beauty in simple things. You were our shining light. our sun. And that will never change. You were perfect in every way. The best person I ever met. The most beautiful girl, inside and out.
‘We love you Victoria. I love you bud. Until the end of time.’
Angela also asked people to give the family “grace and respect” during a difficult time.
Lee had set out to join her brothers as a world champion and had won her first three fights in ONE, Asia’s largest MMA promotion.
Lee was suggested to join her siblings as world champion, Angela (pictured), who holds the ONE Championship atomweight world title and her brother, Christian, the ONE Lightweight Champion.
However, he took time off from the sport in 2022 to focus on graduating high school.
ONE President Chatri Sityodtong also paid tribute to Lee, sharing a Facebook post saying, “I first met Victoria when she was 11 years old. I watched her blossom over the years as a martial artist and as a human being. .
“I always remember thinking how wise, thoughtful, and selfless she was beyond her years. Of course, she was an extraordinary martial arts prodigy even back then, but I could see that she was much more than that.
‘Victoria had the purest heart of gold and a brilliant mind. She took care of others before herself. She wanted to use her life to help the world. I will always remember Victoria for what a beautiful and precious soul she was.’
ONE President Chatri Sityodtong also paid tribute to Lee, sharing a post on Facebook.
Lee had also been a junior world champion in pankration, the modern version of an ancient Greek wrestling form.
She was reportedly heavily involved in her siblings’ career and would carefully bake cakes for them after their wins.
In December, she stated that her brother’s recent world title win was an inspiration to her.
“I am very proud of my older brother,” she said. “Just being able to be in the gym and watch him work so hard in all his training sessions, and watch the fight and see it play out so beautifully.”