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Nicolas Atkin

Once “Unstoppable”, Angela Lee is now on a two-fight skid after losing a unanimous decision to Michelle Nicolini at One Championship’s “Masters of Destiny” event in Kuala Lumpur on Friday night.
The 23-year-old wanted to make a hasty exit from the Axiata Arena, giving an emotional post-fight interview during the second round of the main event.
While Giorgio Petrosyan was going about getting his own unanimous decision against Pechmorakot to progress to the semi-finals of the featherweight kick-boxing world grand prix, Lee was sitting despondent in front of the media.
“Right now I feel pretty s*****, honestly,” Lee said, staring down at the table in front of her. “I don’t feel too great. I’m pretty disappointed in myself. I wish it would have been a better night.”


It was Lee’s defeat by Nicolini in a grappling match in Macau three years ago that had added a bit of spice to this bout.
And the Brazilian jiu-jitsu veteran got another one over on her rival, whom she claimed “beat me up a lot” in a Muay Thai training session.
The loss makes it back-to-back defeats for Lee, who was stopped in the fifth round by Xiong Jingnan in their strawweight title clash in Tokyo at the end of March.

“This is the fight game and you never know what kind of day you’re going to have. Unfortunately today wasn’t a great day. So we’ll have to – I’ll have to – do a lot of thinking, take a little bit of time off, and see how it goes,” Lee added.
The Singaporean was on the verge of tears and spoke for only 90 seconds before leaving her interview in a hurry.
Lee’s record now stands at 9-2 as she heads into her rematch with Xiong in Japan in October, where she will defend her atomweight title – and this was the worst preparation.
Nicolini, an eight-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion, took Lee down to the ground at the start of the fight – which was contested at Lee’s more natural division of strawweight – and that’s where it mostly stayed.

“I’m pretty disappointed I wasn’t able to show the best of my ability. No excuses,” Lee said. “I’m pretty surprised I wasn’t able to show my full game. Unfortunately I didn’t do enough. I should have finished the fight. It went to a decision.”
Lee tried to keep it standing at the start of the third round, but Nicolini was able to weather her striking and drag her back down again.
One Championship: Bi Nguyen stung by judges in sensational split decision loss
“I knew that was her game plan, just to go to the ground. I should have stopped her better. I should have done more to keep it on the feet but you know she had one goal in mind,” Lee said.
“I mean I felt fine on the ground with her. In the last round I felt really good, gave it some ground and pound. I wish I could have had the fight on the feet more, standing, but unfortunately that’s how it went.
The Axiata Arena crowd erupted every time Lee took control of the ground game, throwing their support behind the Singaporean.

Lee managed to wriggle free late on and land some strikes from the top before Nicolini stifled her again as the fight fizzled out somewhat, the crowd chanting “pick her up, pick her up” to Lee.
“I was hoping that part of the round was going to happen in the first part of the fight. It just took too long to get there,” Lee said.


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ONE Championship: Rodtang stuns Takeru with sensational first-round knockout at ONE 172

ONE Championship: Phetjeeja shouldering weight of expectation ahead of Morimoto clash

ONE Championship

One Championship: Angela Lee suffers shock defeat by Michelle Nicolini in Kuala Lumpur

Michelle Nicolini's arm is raised as Angela Lee looks dejected. Photos: One Championship

Angela Lee tries to hit Michelle Nicolini

Michelle Nicolini punches Angela Lee on the ground

Michelle Nicolini celebrates her shock win.

One Championship live stream: Angela Lee fights Michelle Nicolini in Kuala Lumpur

Angela Lee (right) is back in action. Photos: One Championship

Petchmorakot faces off with Giorgio Petrosyan at the open workout in Kuala Lumpur.

One Championship: Bi Nguyen stung by judges in sensational split decision loss

Bozhena Antoniyar’s arm is raised as Bi Nguyen (right) looks incredulous. Photos: One Championship

Bi Nguyen kicks Bozhena Antoniyar

Bi Nguyen lands a punch on Bozhena Antoniyar

Bozhena Antoniyar celebrates after beating Bi Nguyen

One Championship’s Angela Lee on ‘beating up’ Michelle Nicolini: ‘that was me being nice’

Angela Lee squares up to Xiong Jingnan, who she faces in a rematch in October. But first she has to get past Michelle Nicolini – whom she has a score to settle with. Photos: One Championship

Angela Lee (left) looks dejected after Michelle Nicolini's arm is raised.

Michelle Nicolini is a world-class grappler.

Angela Lee punches Xiong Jingnan

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts

Brazilian jiu-jitsu veteran gets unanimous decision against ‘Unstoppable’
Lee gives a brief and emotional post-fight interview before making a quick exit from the Axiata Arena


Brazilian gets unanimous decision with Lee giving a brief and emotional post-fight interview before making a quick exit from the Axiata Arena.


Martial arts

One Championship: Angela Lee suffers shock defeat by Michelle Nicolini in Kuala Lumpur

Brazilian jiu-jitsu veteran gets unanimous decision against ‘Unstoppable’ Lee gives a brief and emotional post-fight interview before making a quick exit from the Axiata Arena

Brazilian jiu-jitsu veteran gets unanimous decision against ‘Unstoppable’

Lee gives a brief and emotional post-fight interview before making a quick exit from the Axiata Arena