LAS VEGAS – Now a mother to a 6-month-old daughter, Angela Lee is experiencing a new life. And yet, she also can’t wait to get back to her old life as an MMA fighter.
“Life is different now, but she is my No. 1 motivation,” the ONE Championship women’s atomweight titleholder told MMA Junkie. “I’m ready to go.”
October 13, 2019 was the last time Lee (10-2) competed, when she defended her title with a fifth-round submission of Xiong Jing Nan for a measure of revenge after losing a strawweight title fight to Nan by fifth-round TKO seven months prior. It wasn’t long after Lee’s fourth defense of her 115-pound title that the world turned upside down because of COVID-19, which forced ONE to go on hiatus. And then the 25-year-old got pregnant, guaranteeing she’d be sidelined even longer.
It’s been long enough, though, and Lee can’t wait to return with a new fighting mentality as a mom.
“Definitely I think I have that mama bear instinct. All moms do,” Lee said. “I’m super protective of her, and I don’t know, I’m just super fired up. I haven’t felt this way in years. I can’t wait. I have that itch back.”
She continued, “Although I’ve taken time off physically, I’m still in the game (mentally). I haven’t taken a break. I’ve been watching what’s happening with the (atomweight grand prix) and keeping track of the girls in my division. I’m so excited. We’re working on new things this camp, and I definitely think it’s gonna be my best performance yet.”
Lee said she plans to return in the first quarter of 2022 for what would be her fifth title defense.
In the video above, you can hear Lee discuss her thoughts on the atomweight final between Stamp Fairtex and Ritu Phogat and who she expects to face.
New mother, longtime ONE champion Angela Lee ‘super fired up’ to return in 2022
