- Title: Women's MMA has 'huge' potential, says rising star Angela Lee
- Date: 18th May 2017
- Summary: SINGAPORE (MAY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) MMA GYM WITH FIGHTERS TRAINING VARIOUS ANGELA LEE SITTING ON THE FLOOR TALKING TO HER FATHER KEN LEE AND HER BROTHER CHRISTIAN ANGELA LEE SITTING DOWN FOR THE INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATOMWEIGHT MMA FIGHTER, ONE CHAMPIONSHIP, ANGELA LEE SAYING: "I think that women's MMA is very mainstream. Over the last couple years it kind of just exploded and it's a whole new market. In the U.S. it's really taken off, they've got multiple weight divisions, and now here in Asia I think it's growing at a rapid pace as well. And I think it's just going to go on this upward trajectory in the next three years - it's going to be huge." LEE BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATOMWEIGHT MMA FIGHTER, ONE CHAMPIONSHIP, ANGELA LEE SAYING: "I think it's really good for women MMA to be here in Asia because in Asia for many, many years there's been this kind of gender inequality. Women are not really treated the way they should be over here on this side of the world. And so I think that women's MMA can really help to empower these women, even if it is for self-defence it would definitely benefit everyone." VARIOUS OF LEE TRAINING WITH HER YOUNGER BROTHER CHRISTIAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATOMWEIGHT MMA FIGHTER, ONE CHAMPIONSHIP, ANGELA LEE SAYING: "You know, people here and there saying that, I think it is very ignorant of them to be saying, oh, women shouldn't be fighting, women should just stick to whatever women should do, what is that, really, nowadays? I think that any one should be able to do whatever that they want to do. And if women want to train hard and step in a cage and compete I think they should be able to do that and not be judged for that." VARIOUS OF LEE TRAINING WITH HER BROTHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATOMWEIGHT MMA FIGHTER, ONE CHAMPIONSHIP, ANGELA LEE SAYING: "Yes and that is why I love MMA so much, you can really see the equality. The female fighters and the male fighters, same pay, they are treated the same and I think that's how it should be for all sports." TATTOO ON LEE'S FOREARM (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATOMWEIGHT MMA FIGHTER, ONE CHAMPIONSHIP, ANGELA LEE SAYING: "The preparation has been the same, I still work hard, I still train hard every single day in the gym. But now, you know, going out there and defending this title, it kind of brings a different kind of emotion. Especially because I'm here in Singapore. The last time I was fighting here I was fighting for the title and this time I'm defending it in front of all my family, my friends. I think that I take pride in that, I think it's going to bring out the best in me and I'm going to do really well." LEE TALKING TO HER FATHER KEN LEE SITTING IN FRONT OF A MESH WIRE FIGHTING CAGE FIGHTERS IN THE CAGE SPARING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MMA TRAINER, ANGELA'S FATHER, KEN LEE SAYING: "I think she is a very good opponent, she is well balanced. Obviously she has world titles in her striking aspects, so she is strong there. We train for each fight based on her opponents, so yes, we did strategize some things for this fight." VARIOUS OF LEE TRAINING WITH HER BROTHER
- Embargoed: 1st June 2017 12:27
- Keywords: women fighters mixed martial arts sports
- Location: SINGAPORE
- City: SINGAPORE
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: Mixed Martial Arts,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016HD77SV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Mixed martial arts may have started as a male-dominated sport, but women have grappled their way to the upper echelons of MMA and will only gain more popularity in the coming years, undefeated champion Angela Lee said on Thursday (May 18).
"I think that women's MMA is very mainstream. Over the last couple years it kind of just exploded and it's a whole new market," Lee, 20, told Reuters in an interview on the mats of the Evolve MMA gym in Singapore.
"I think it's just going to go on this upward trajectory in the next three years - it's going to be huge," said Lee, who last year became the youngest-ever MMA world champion by winning the ONE Championship atomweight, or under 52.2 kg (115 pounds), title.
Women's MMA has been around since the 1990s but it was Olympic judo medalist Ronda Rousey's signing just five years ago with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that helped bring it to the general public.
Underscoring the growing appeal of women's MMA, "Unstoppable" Lee will headline the fight card at ONE's Dynasty of Heroes event in Singapore next Friday. She will seek to defend her title against Brazil's Istela Nunes, a two-time Muay Thai world champion.
Similarly, the main card at UFC's Fight Night next month, also in Singapore, features former champion Holly Holm -- best-known for dealing Rousey her first loss -- taking on Bethe Correia.
Lee said the combat sport was enjoying strong growth in Asia and was a plus for women in the region, where gender inequality has persisted in many countries.
"I think that women's MMA can really help to empower these women, even if it is for self-defence it would definitely benefit everyone," she said.
Lee was born in Canada and moved to Hawaii as a child. She burst onto the scene in 2015 when she signed with Singapore-based ONE, Asia's answer to U.S.-based UFC, and has since built a 7-0 record.
She comes from a martial arts family -- her parents both competed and her father, Ken, who comes from Singapore, is her coach. Her younger brother Christian is also signed with ONE.
Fighting in Singapore next week will bring "a different type of emotion" as she last fought here when she won her title and will be competing in front of family and friends. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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