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Highly touted teen standout “The Phenom” Adrian Lee plans to keep the winning momentum going in his second fight in the world’s largest martial arts organization.

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This Friday, September 6 in U.S. primetime, he will take on Nico “The Steel City Kid” Cornejo in an explosive lightweight MMA tilt at ONE 168: Denver, live from Ball Arena.

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Adrian Lee gears up for Stiff test against unbeaten prospect Cornejo

The younger brother to reigning two-division ONE MMA World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee and former atomweight MMA queen Angela Lee, “The Phenom” arrived at ONE with lofty expectations surrounding him.

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He quickly lived up to the hype, scoring a sensational second-round submission victory over Italian star Antonio Mammarella in June at ONE 167. That victory marked Lee’s much-anticipated professional debut, and he’s preparing for a stiff test in his sophomore appearance. Colorado native Cornejo boasts an unbeaten amateur and professional record, as well as solid punching power and a dynamic takedown game.

Adrian Lee says that he and his team have done their homework on “The Steel City Kid”: “I saw that [Cornejo] is a hard hitter and that he has a pretty good wrestling game, even though he doesn’t have any specific wrestling accolades. Our camp will definitely be centered around countering that.”

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Lee aims for a first-round finish at ONE 168

For his part, Adrian Lee is excited to showcase the full breadth of his all-around MMA game. After a lifetime of training at an elite level alongside his family, the 18-year-old says he has much more to offer than what fans saw in his professional debut.

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Wherever the fight goes, he plans to be better than Cornejo. With that in mind, Lee says a finish – however that comes – is to be expected at ONE 168: “I plan to bring into this fight how well-rounded I really am. I plan to show more of my striking, more of my grappling, and more of my wrestling in this fight compared to my last.

He further added, “I plan on finishing it first round, either TKO, KO, or submission, whatever comes first.”

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Suryakant Das

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Suryakant Das is a senior writer who leads UFC live coverage at EssentiallySports, known for his broad expertise and standout professionalism in MMA journalism. Over two years in the field, he has become a key voice on real-time event updates, pre- and post-fight interviews, and analysis of viral moments from the Joe Rogan Experience. His dynamic reporting is backed by selection to the Journalistic Excellence Program, which hones advanced editorial skills and strategic coverage approaches for top talent. Suryakant’s career is defined by his ability to deliver both speed and depth. His versatile background spans sports journalism, content writing, and editorial roles, helping him navigate fast-paced live coverage and deliver meaningful stories with clarity and precision. Recognition from respected MMA figures such as Nina-Marie Daniele and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping further marks him as a trusted authority in the UFC community.

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Joyita Das

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