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Nicolas Atkin

After giving birth in April, “Unstoppable” Angela Lee finally got back to training last week, as she prepares to fight the winner of the ONE Championship atomweight grand prix.
The problem is, the eight-woman tournament hasn’t even started yet.
May’s ONE: Empower card – featuring the four first round matchups – was postponed after a surge in Covid-19 cases in Singapore, and is yet to be rescheduled.
“It’s a bummer that this is just happening, but that’s the story of what’s been going on since 2020 and Covid, it’s just pushing everything back,” ONE atomweight champion Lee told SCMP MMA.


“I was very excited to see the first round as well. But I think ONE Championship always find a way and when they are able to put on that event it’s gonna be very exciting, just because the anticipation has grown so much.
“I think it’s gonna be even better now. You have to make people wait that much longer, so they’re even more excited for it.”
Angela Lee says ‘little beast’ Adrian, 15, could be next sibling in ONE
The Asian promotion’s official website has no listing for ONE: Empower, with ONE: 139 the next card set for July 9 in Singapore, and Lee said she had not been given any updates.
“I think it’s hard right just because different countries have different restrictions and it’s constantly changing. Hopefully fingers crossed it happens within the next month or so, but I will be eagerly waiting as well,” she added.
Lee admitted the delay will give her more time to get into fight shape, having originally been set to defend her title in November, with the grand prix supposed to finish in September.




















View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Angela Lee Pucci (@angelaleemma)



“Yes it does, but I’m not banking on it,” she said. “I’m not sure how fast this grand prix is gonna wrap up. I just know I’m gonna be focusing on me and my journey back, and my goal is to be in fight shape by the end of the year.
“My job is to just stay ready. I’m taking it one day at a time. I know I don’t fight until there is a winner of the grand prix, so I am gonna be keeping my eye on that.”
Lee has begun that process this month, hitting the mats at the family’s United MMA gym in Hawaii with her father and coach Ken Lee, husband Bruno Pucci, and her brother Christian Lee – ONE’s lightweight champion – as well as younger siblings Victoria Lee, 16, and Adrian Lee, 15.




















View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Angela Lee Pucci (@angelaleemma)



“Oh man, it feels great to be back but it’s definitely been a long time, so I am feeling sore,” Lee said. “I’m just trying to take it day by day, one step at a time and enjoying the process.
“I wouldn’t say it’s getting easier, just because I’ve been out for so long and my body is just not used to it. I’ve had a similar feeling when I would be out for a while vacationing and then having to get back into fight camp.
“I know to expect the first week or two I’m gonna be sore. But this is not a couple of months, I’ve been out for almost a year now, so definitely my body has some catching up to do.”


ONE Championship: Yod-IQ Pimolsri secures contract, eyes rematch with Abdulla Dayakaev

ONE Championship: Superbon insists his longevity, success are rooted in discipline over sacrifice

ONE Championship: Mohammad Siasarani finally gets coveted contract – now he wants the belt

ONE Championship: Liu Mengyang believes win over Tawanchai is ‘turning point of my career’

ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Angela Lee unsure of return date as atomweight grand prix delays persist

Angela Lee poses for a picture during her return to training. Photo: Instagram/@angelaleemma

Angela Lee says ‘little beast’ brother Adrian, 15, could be next sibling in ONE Championship after ‘hungry lion’ Victoria

ONE Championship lightweight champ Christian Lee with his siblings Victoria Lee (second left), Adrian Lee (second right) and ONE atomweight champ Angela Lee (right). Photo: Instagram/@angelaleemma

Victoria Lee punches Sunisa Srisen at ONE: Fists of Fury in Singapore. Photo: ONE Championship

ONE Championship’s Japanese ‘Zombie’ Ayaka Miura wants Xiong Jingnan to beat Michelle Nicolini

Ayaka Miura ahead of her fight against Rayane Bastos. Photos: ONE Championship

Ayaka Miura applies the scar hold Americana to Rayane Bastos.

Ayaka Miura celebrates her submission win over Rayane Bastos.

ONE Championship: Angela Lee admits she ‘felt like throwing up’ after training for first time since giving birth

Angela Lee poses with her baby daughter after training for the first time since giving birth in April. Photos: Instagram/@angelaleemma

Angela Lee poses for a picture on the mats at her family’s United MMA Hawaii gym.

ONE Championship: John Lineker claims Bibiano Fernandes is asking for ‘absurd’ money to fight him

John Lineker ahead of his fight against Kevin Belingon. Photos: ONE Championship

John Lineker walks off after knocking out Troy Worthen at ONE on TNT 3.

ONE Championship: Christian Lee says Eddie Alvarez’s call-out, trash talk ‘just makes me laugh’

Christian Lee (left) celebrates after his win against Timofey Nastyukhin. Eddie Alvarez (right) is looking to get the next title shot. Photos: ONE Championship

Ok Rae-yoon catches Eddie Alvarez with a right hand at ONE on TNT 4.

Ok Rae-yoon celebrates his victory over Eddie Alvarez at ONE on TNT 4.

Christian Lee celebrates after retaining his lightweight title at ONE on TNT 2.

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


Atomweight champion back training after giving birth in April, but tournament set up to determine her next challenger has not even started
‘It’s a bummer that this is happening … My goal is just to stay ready, [and] to be in fight shape by the end of the year,’ Lee says



‘It’s a bummer … My goal is just to be in fight shape by the end of the year,’ says ONE Championship’s atomweight champ, who has returned to training after giving birth.


Angela Lee