Angela Lee acknowledges risk in challenging Xiong Jing Nan for world strawweight title

Reigning ONE women's atomweight world champion Angela Lee is well aware of the danger she's facing when she moves up in weight to vie for the ONE women's wtrawweight title against Xiong Jing Nan in the main event of ONE: Heart of the Lion on November 9 at Indoor Stadium in Singapore.

The 22-year-old Lee has stood on top of ONE Championship's atomweight division for years and holds an unbeaten record of 9-0. She realizes the risks she's taking in challenging Xiong Jing Nan, but the young champion says the upcoming showdown is all about making history all over again.

Angela Lee. Photo courtesy of ONE Championship

"People see this upcoming showdown as a high risk bout that I didn't have to take. I acknowledge the danger in moving up a weight class to challenge Xiong Jing Nan. But as a lifelong martial artist, I've learned that the only way to get better is to keep challenging myself," said Lee.

"I made history by being the youngest woman to become a world champion in mixed martial arts at 19 years old. On November 9, I aim to write my name in the history books yet again by being the youngest female martial artist to become a world champion in two weight classes."

ONE Championship chairman Chatri Sityodtong, meanwhile, brands Lee as a heavy underdog in the upcoming bout between the two world champions. He is somewhat puzzled why Lee took the challenge, and says the ONE women's atomweight world champion will be in for what would be her toughest bout to date.

"I actually don’t know why Angela is doing this moving up to fight a bigger, stronger, faster champion. This could be Angela’s first potential loss. This is a high-stakes game. This is a world champion versus world champion fight," said Sityodtong.

"I put Angela as a heavy underdog in this fight because she’s moving up a weight class against a very, very dangerous KO striker with a 13-1 record. She’s finished almost everybody she’s faced. That being said, I also know Angela and she’s always about making history."

Getting branded as an underdog, however, merely motivated Lee to train harder than ever for a championship bout. She has nothing but praises for her counterpart, but made it clear she's not about to fail her mission in front of her hometown crowd.

"Xiong Jing Nan is a dangerous striker but at the same she's a well-rounded martial artist," Lee quipped. "I plan on keeping my unbeaten record intact and I believe we have the right game plan to emerge victorious in front of my hometown crowd in Singapore." — LA, GMA News