Rising mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Victoria Lee died in late December at the age of 18, her family announced Saturday.
Lee made her MMA debut in the ONE Championship in February 2021 at the age of 16. Angela Lee published a tribute to her sister on Instagram.
“On December 26, 2022 our family experienced something no family should ever have to go through … It is incredibly difficult to say this … Our Victoria passed away,” Angela wrote in the post’s caption.
While Angela did not specify Lee’s cause of death, she ended the tribute by encouraging her followers to check on their loved ones. “Please give our family grace and respect during this most difficult time. And please, check on your loved ones. Keep checking on them. Give them hugs and tell them how much they mean to you. You just never know.”
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A rising star within the MMA world, Lee had a 3-0 record in her short time as a professional fighter and was set to fight in her fourth MMA match Jan. 13.
The Lee family is prominent in the ONE Championship with Angela, 26, holding the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title and Christian, 24, holding the ONE Men’s Welterweight World Title and being a two-time welterweight champion. (RELATED: Jake Paul Signs MMA Contract With The Professional Fighters League)
Victoria Lee was active on Instagram eight days before her death. “Super proud of my little bro for winning the Toughman Pankration World Title (2nd round top guillotine) and of my teammate Elias for an awesome kickboxing win,” Lee posted Dec. 18, celebrating her 17-year-old brother Adrian’s achievements.
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The Lee family “permanently closed” their gym, United MMA Hawaii, according to podcast host Todd Atkins, who cited an update on the gym’s Instagram page.