Adrian Lee proved to be as good as advertised after picking up a huge win in his professional debut last weekend. Last Friday at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs Nattawut II, “The Phenom” defeated Antonio Mammarella in a lightweight MMA bout with an impressive second-round submission inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. 

There was plenty of fanfare surrounding Lee’s debut. His older siblings had impressed on their respective debuts and the teenager looked to continue the family trend when he took the Circle. 

Adrian Lee impresses everyone with his first victory at ONE 167

“The Phenom” came out all guns blazing as he wasted no time launching at his opponent as soon as the bell rang. Near the end of the first round, he locked Mammarella in a right reverse triangle and tried for a kimura, but the bell rang to signal the end of the round. In the second round, Lee finally got his opponent’s back and forced him to tap after just under a minute in the second stanza. 

Following the match, Lee told ONE commentator Mitch Chilson in the middle of the Circle that he had planned to win the match even faster. “To be honest, I actually planned to finish it in the first round, but it’s ok. Second round’s good too,” Lee said.

“He (Mammarella) is a tough opponent so props to him. But I’m a bit disappointed that I couldn’t get the finish early, but you know, it’s great that I finished it in the second.” Lee added.

Lee’s brother and sisters made a splash on their debuts in the world’s largest martial arts organization. Both Christian and Angela Lee went on to become World Champions –  a path that Adrian wants to follow soon. 

Lee promises fans he will be faster in his next fight

Even at the height of his run in the promotion, when he had won both the lightweight and welterweight MMA World Titles, Christian Lee was hyping how good his youngest sibling was going to be. While his family’s reputation might have brought about some undue pressure, Adrian Lee looked unflappable and showcased his own skills.

“It feels great. I’ve been looking forward to this moment my whole life, man. I’m so happy that I get my turn. It’s great. I couldn’t have done this without my brother and my dad. It all goes to them.” Lee said.

Lee’s impressive win also earned him a US$50,000 performance bonus from the ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong which he was delighted to win. The 18-year-old vowed an even better performance and promised the fans a quicker finish in his next outing.