Lee defends crown anew, Askren faces Aoki in retirement bout
THE LARGEST sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship announced another thrilling spectacle as it returns home to Singapore on November 24 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium is set to play host to ONE: Immortal pursuit.
In the main event, undefeated ONE women’s atomweight world champion Angela Lee defends her title against Japanese martial arts veteran Mei Yamaguchi in a much-anticipated rematch of their epic first encounter in 2016.
In the evening’s comain event, ONE welterweight world champion Ben Askren steps inside the cage for the final time in his perfect career to defend his title against Japanese legend Shinya Aoki.
Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated the event going to be the biggest for martial arts fans in Singapore and around the world.
“Two of the most dominant world champions in ONE Championship history are set to grace the cage in a single evening of world-class entertainment. Angela Lee and Mei Yamaguchi are ready for an encore to their phenomenal first bout in 2016 in a rematch of epic proportions, while Ben Askren will perform for his fans for the final time against the legendary Shinya Aoki. It’s a night fans will certainly not want to miss,” Sityodtong said.
The 21-year-old Lee of Singapore is considered one of ONE Championship’s most outstanding athletes. She captured the inaugural ONE women’s atomweight world championship with an awe-inspiring victory over Mei Yamaguchi in 2016, and has since then defended the title successfully on two occasions.
Lee’s beautiful combination of elite striking and grappling has proven to be a potent formula for success, as she has remained unbeaten in her career.
In the most recent bout of an impressive run, Lee dominated top contender Istela Nunes, showcasing her wide array of skills despite suffering from illness.
Thirty - four year old Japanese martial arts veteran Yamaguchi is the DEEP Jewels featherweight champion, and owns seven submissions and two knockouts in her 27-bout professional career.
A former NCAA Division I All-American and US Olympian, Ben Askren is a collegiate wrestling legend and one of the finest martial artists in the world today. Askren joined ONE Championship in 2014, taking the promotion by storm and capturing the ONE Welterweight World Championship with a resounding technical knockout victory over Nobutatsu Suzuki. Since then, Askren has successfully defended the title three times, and has stopped six of his last seven opponents to maintain a perfect 170 professional record.
In what is being billed as the last bout of Askren’s illustrious professional career, the American is set to defend his title against the legendary Aoki considered as one of the world’s most decorated athletes.
Aoki was the former DREAM lightweight champion, former Shooto Welterweight Champion, and the former ONE lightweight world champion. PR