At just 19 years old and approaching his 20th birthday in March, Adrian Lee stands as a promising figure in his family’s renowned mixed martial arts heritage. Despite securing state wrestling championships and achieving an impressive three-fight winning streak within ONE Championship, the fighter known as ‘The Phenom’ is determined to reclaim his victorious momentum after a setback against Tye Ruotolo in September. Muscle & Fitness recently spoke with this emerging talent to explore his preparation for the upcoming showdown with Shozo Isojima, just days before their eagerly awaited lightweight matchup at ONE Fight Night 40.
Who Is Adrian Lee?
As the youngest member among the Lee siblings, Adrian carries the weight of a distinguished family legacy in combat sports, though he lightheartedly mentions that he once dreamed of pursuing a career as a professional gamer. Overwhelmed by his family’s accomplishments, he felt compelled to embark on the same journey. His sister, Angela Lee, holds the record as the youngest MMA world champion ever, claiming the title at age 19, while his brother Christian Lee serves as both a trusted advisor and coach, currently reigning as ONE champion in two weight classes. Angela and their late sister Victoria also earned Hawaii State Wrestling championships, a tradition that Adrian upheld by winning his own in 2023. ‘In all honesty, competing in wrestling and capturing that state championship provided yet another avenue to accumulate valuable experience,’ Adrian explains to Muscle & Fitness. ‘From a young age, I’ve immersed myself in various martial arts disciplines. I was raised training in MMA, kickboxing, boxing, and jiu-jitsu, and entering high school offered an additional opportunity to hone my skills through structured competition.’
What Adrian Lee Learned From His First Professional Loss
When Adrian stepped into the ONE Championship cage for his professional debut on June 7, 2024, he brought an already impressive track record, including a national youth MMA title among his achievements. He triumphed in his initial ONE appearance and extended his undefeated run to 3-0 before suffering his first career defeat via a rear-naked choke from Tye Ruotolo. Yet, this experience yielded invaluable insights. ‘Truthfully, that loss hit me extremely hard,’ Adrian admits. ‘Experiencing my first defeat was monumental for me since I absolutely despise losing and craved victory above all else. However, I chose to press on, extracting every possible lesson from it. That bout represented a massive opportunity for growth and learning.’
Throughout that challenging encounter, Lee demonstrated remarkable resilience, enduring significant punishment yet repeatedly rising to his feet. Now, he aims to return even more formidable against Shozo Isojima, who holds a 6-1-0 record, during ONE Fight Night 40 on February 13 (or February 14 depending on time zones). ‘He’s a versatile competitor,’ Adrian assesses regarding Isojima. ‘Coming off his own loss to Tye, I see him as a relentless grinder. His approach involves securing takedowns, maintaining control on the ground, and delivering ground-and-pound strikes. Fighters like that demand respect and cannot be taken lightly.’
Adrian Lee’s Mindset Shift: Staying Calm Under Pressure
‘One major evolution in my approach has been the accumulation of experience and my enhanced capacity to remain composed,’ Adrian reveals. ‘My inaugural ONE Championship fight was among the most intimidating experiences of my life, burdened by immense pressure. I felt this urgency to secure a first-round finish, mirroring what my siblings accomplished in their debuts. But now, I can pause, anticipate what fight week entails, and simply maintain my cool while embracing the journey.’
Following his professional debut loss, Adrian became his toughest evaluator, an introspection that has ignited a profound drive within him. ‘Since that match with Tye, I’ve remained in continuous training camp, meticulously addressing weaknesses, eliminating flaws in my technique, and striving for perfection as an all-around MMA athlete,’ he shares with Muscle & Fitness. ‘I’ve tailored specific strategies for Shozo while focusing on becoming a more well-rounded fighter overall.’
Why 2026 Could Be Adrian Lee’s Breakout Year
‘I genuinely thrive on sparring and the thrill of competition,’ Adrian confesses, highlighting the unique connection he shares with his brother Christian during training sessions. ‘Nothing matches the rush and exhilaration I feel when we roll together. Those rounds are the most enjoyable because they’re incredibly intense, and I feed off that competitive energy.’
Although Adrian remains laser-focused on his pivotal upcoming bout, this rising star harbors ambitious plans for 2026. ‘Moving ahead, my goal is to maintain high activity levels this year. In the previous two years, I fought only twice annually, but now I aim for four or even five bouts. I’m still young, eager to rack up achievements in this sport, and my physique is in prime condition. I want to maximize my fight frequency and gain extensive experience. I’m incredibly fortunate to have a brother who’s a double champion and a sister who was a champ; they’ve paved a proven path that I can follow confidently to reach the pinnacle.’
Adrian ‘The Phenom’ Lee is set to clash with Shozo ‘The Great Teacher’ Isojima in a lightweight MMA showdown at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II. The event streams live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, February 13.
