ONE Championship Star Angela Lee announces emotional retirement amidst personal struggles

In a tearful farewell, Angela Lee, a prominent figure in ONE Championship, declared her retirement during the recent ONE Fight Night 14 event in Singapore.

Angela made an emotional appearance, laying down her title belt to reveal her decision to withdraw from fighting.

This heart-wrenching announcement comes days after Angela publicly addressed her ongoing mental health issues, highlighting her 2017 suicide attempt, which preceded the tragic suicide of her younger sister, Victoria Lee, in December 2022.

Taking the stage, Lee expressed, “I’m here today to officially announce my retirement. The greatest battle will be within ourselves… Each day, we’re victorious when we choose to rise up in the face of adversity.”

Angela Lee began her professional journey in ONE Championship in 2015 and quickly gained recognition as a promising talent.

She achieved the title in May 2018, after defeating Mei Yamaguchi. Her thrilling matches, especially the trilogy against Jingnag Xiong, were among the most memorable in the promotion’s history.

Angela’s recent disclosure about her past includes a startling revelation regarding a 2017 car crash in Hawaii, initially portrayed as an accident.

Through an article for The Players Tribune, Angela confessed that the incident was a suicide attempt, a reflection of her mental health struggles despite her professional success.

Recounting the moments leading to the crash, Lee stated, “Everything came crashing down on November 6… At one point, I went to the bathroom and literally tried to break my own arm. Then I tried to give myself a concussion.”

Victoria Lee’s untimely death led Angela Lee to take up the mantle of mental health advocacy.

The sisters co-founded Fightstory, a non-profit organization committed to mental health awareness and support, ensuring that those struggling with mental health know they aren’t alone.

Following these events, the family’s gym, United MMA Hawaii, which had been closed since Victoria’s passing, has reopened. Christian Lee, Angela’s brother, is also slated to return to ONE Championship in the upcoming year.

Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, responding to these events, expressed excitement about the Lee family’s future in ONE, especially anticipating Adrian Lee’s debut in the championship.

In the wake of Angela’s retirement, the main event at ONE Fight Night 114 saw an upgrade from interim to undisputed championship bout.