3 Times ONE Championship’s Singapore Athletes Went To The Next Level
Singapore is the birthplace of ONE Championship, so it should come as no surprise that many of the promotion’s stars also hail from “The Lion City.”
The sovereign city-state island has produced World Champions, record-breaking knockout artists, and national heroes.
Here are three of the most memorable performances from ONE’s Singaporean superstars.
1 – Lee Dominates Despite Having Pneumonia
“Unstoppable” Angela Lee has had a storied career in ONE, but martial arts fans may have seen one of the best performances from the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion at ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES in May 2017.
On that night, she faced two-time Muay Thai World Champion Istela Nunes just a week after being diagnosed with pneumonia. In fact, she even vomited minutes before making her way to the Circle at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
“Unstoppable” lived up to her moniker, though.
After the opening bell, she negated Nunes’ striking and brought her foe to the canvas with a headlock takedown.
The Brazilian tried to wriggle free, but Lee jumped on her back and attempted a rear-naked choke followed by her signature twister.
Nunes survived and in the second stanza, she opened up with more strikes. The Singaporean, however, drove her to the canvas once again.
In a frantic scramble, Lee sunk in an anaconda choke and pelted Nunes’ head with knees.
After a leg trip from “Unstoppable” that saw her rival hit the canvas, Lee clamped down further with the anaconda until Nunes was forced to tap.
2 – ‘The Warrior’ Unseats A Japanese Legend
Christian “The Warrior” Lee stunned fans inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium at ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON in May 2019.
Lee, who had been competing in ONE’s featherweight division, jumped up a weight class to challenge then-ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki for the belt.
After the bell for round one rang, the Japanese legend took “The Warrior” down and eventually secured a deep armbar. But Lee, whose arm had been manipulated in multiple ways, survived the period.
Showing the true grit that would turn him into a World Champion, Lee came out in round two fired up.
He stuffed further takedown attempts from Aoki and even backed him into the corner of the ring.
Once trapped, “Tobikan Judan” had no way to escape and the Singaporean sparked him with a right cross and then a straight left, which rocked the veteran.
“The Warrior” continued to pummel Aoki until the referee waved off the bout, declaring Lee the new ONE Lightweight World Champion.
3 – Khan Switches To Submission
Amir Khan may share the number one spot with “The Warrior” for most knockouts in the Circle, but at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON in September 2018, he dazzled fans with a submission win over former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario.
The two lightweights opened the contest swinging hard and fast, but after “The Rock” threw a telegraphed combination at Khan, the Singaporean changed levels and toppled Banario with a takedown.
Banario returned to his feet and continued to strike, but his opponent wanted no part in the exchange. Khan shot for another takedown, but after the unsuccessful attempt, he took the back of his Filipino rival and brought him to the canvas.
The Singaporean then sought out a rear-naked choke, and although “The Rock” initially defended it well, it was only a matter of time before Khan was able to sink in the bout-winning submission.
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