Lee set for Nunes clash on May 26

One Championship's Angela Lee wanted to defend her atomweight title "multiple times" this year - and now she will be getting her wish.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter One Championship announced yesterday that Lee will face Brazilian Istela Nunes at its Singapore event, dubbed One: Dynasty of Heroes, on May 26. The event will be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

It will be the 20-year-old Lee's second title defence this year, after successfully fending off the challenge of Jenny Huang last Saturday in Bangkok.

It also marks her first return to the venue where she was crowned atomweight champion, the youngest winner of an MMA world title.

In front of a sell-out crowd of 11,000 last May, Lee, who is of Singaporean and Korean descent, beat Mei Yamaguchi to clinch the atomweight title in One Championship's first-ever women's title fight.

One Championship chief executive Victor Cui said: "Angela Lee is proving to be an awesome champion and a true competitor.

"Istela Nunes is a worthy challenger for the (title) and Singapore has a tremendous fight on their hands."

Lee, who lives in Hawaii, said: "After my last fight, I showed everybody just how much I have improved over the last couple of months.

"I'm ready to do it again. Istela Nunes had better be ready to go to battle, because this time I'm defending the title on my turf."

Both Lee (7-0) and Nunes (5-0) will enter the fight with perfect winning records.

The Brazilian, 24, said: "I am preparing myself well and will make sure that I come ready. On May 26, I will accomplish what so many others failed to do.

"I will beat Angela Lee and become champion."

While Lee was dominant in her clash against Huang, in control from start to finish before winning by technical knockout in the third round, the Nunes clash presents a different proposition altogether.

Nunes, a former muay thai world champion, beat Yamaguchi by split decision last August at a One Championship event in Macau.

Yamaguchi had pushed Lee all the way through five rounds last year. The Japanese eventually lost by unanimous decision.

A sound grappler, Lee finished her other bouts by way of submission (five) and technical knockout (one).

That said, her latest duel against Huang, which came after almost 10 months away from the arena, showcased a refined striking game.

On that, she said: "It's not just my striking. I'm constantly evolving and looking to improve every single area. I have to keep improving to be best in the world."

Chua Siang Yee

•Tickets for One: Dynasty of Heroes are available at onefc.com

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 17, 2017, with the headline Lee set for Nunes clash on May 26. Subscribe