‘I’ll Beat Him Everywhere’ – Adrian Lee Promises Dominant Return Against Shozo Isojima At ONE Fight Night 40
Teenage star Adrian “The Phenom” Lee is determined to bounce back from the first defeat of his professional career with a statement performance.
The 19-year-old will face Japan’s Shozo “The Great Teacher” Isojima in a lightweight MMA contest at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, February 13.
What makes this clash particularly intriguing is that both fighters suffered their most recent losses to the same opponent – ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo, who transitioned to MMA in 2025 and immediately made his mark on the division.
The youngest member of the famed Lee family made his high-profile debut at ONE 167 in June 2024, submitting Antonio Mammarella in the second round. The Prodigy Training Center product then tapped out America’s Nico Cornejo at ONE 168 and Japan’s Takeharu Ogawa at ONE 172, both via first-round submission, to extend his perfect start to 3-0.
However, in September 2025, Lee collided with Ruotolo, who was making his MMA debut. The Californian showcased his budding stand-up arsenal and exceptional grappling credentials, ultimately forcing Lee to submit via rear-naked choke in the second round. The experience taught him truths that no amount of training can replicate.
Lee said:
“That fight with Tye, it was a rough one. When I was in that ring with Tye, it was kind of new. Tye was definitely the highest caliber opponent I’ve fought so far, and I think it was definitely a little bit of a shocker.
“I didn’t think that he’d get under me so fast and that he’d get right into the takedown. I went right into his world. It kind of just started off on a bad foot and kept going his way throughout that fight. So, there was definitely a lot to learn.”
The 19-year-old Hawaiian sensation’s ability to analyze his performance objectively and extract valuable lessons shows maturity beyond his years.
Rather than making excuses or dwelling on the defeat, Lee has focused on identifying areas for improvement. After resting his body for a few weeks, he returned to Prodigy Training Center with a new fire and started fixing the gaps in his game.
But perhaps the most important learning he took away from that performance came in the battle’s most heated moments.
Lee said:
“The biggest lesson I learned from that fight was my composure. It was the first time I’ve ever been put in a position like that in any of my fights. In my head, I had thought I was losing the fight a lot worse than I was just because I’ve never gotten taken down. I’ve never lost any positions in a fight before.
“So definitely, it added a lot to my experience. Now, I know how to stay more composed and more level-headed during a fight. I’m excited to show that in this next fight.”
Standing in Lee’s path to redemption is the 28-year-old Isojima, a Japanese destroyer who carries a 6-1 professional record into this upcoming lightweight MMA contest.
However, Isojima discovered the same harsh reality Lee had experienced – Ruotolo’s grappling prowess can be quite overwhelming. The BJJ ace ultimately submitted the Kuwana native in less than three minutes.
Now, both Lee and Isojima find themselves seeking redemption after falling to the same elite grappler, creating a fascinating stylistic matchup between two athletes who are eager to bounce back.
The Hawaiian shared:
“I think his biggest strengths are probably his resiliency and his ability to just grind [opponents down]. He’s a grinder. He’s able to strike, take you down, hold you down, and ground-and-pound. And then for weaknesses, I’ve seen him get touched up a lot in his fights.
“He has some accolades in his judo and his wrestling, but I believe that I’ll beat him everywhere in this game.”
Lee Targets First-Round Finish In Redemption Performance
As the younger brother of reigning ONE Lightweight and Welterweight MMA World Champion Christian Lee and retired atomweight queen Angela Lee, Adrian Lee has been immersed in world-class martial arts training since childhood.
That pedigree, combined with his natural talent and impeccable work ethic, has created a fighter who possesses World Title potential despite his youth. The loss to Ruotolo represents a temporary setback rather than a career-defining moment, and Lee is determined to prove that on February 13.
“The Phenom” said:
“I feel like my biggest strength as an MMA fighter is the ability to mix it up. I feel like since I’ve been training MMA since I was a kid, I haven’t really been a specialist.
“I’ve kind of been able to just flow between the striking, the wrestling, and the grappling. I really feel like that’s a big part of the MMA game, being able to combine them all, and I feel like that’s my biggest strength.”
Lee plans to use that strength to make a resounding statement at Isojima’s expense and remind everyone why he’s considered one of MMA’s most exciting young stars.
The Hawaii-based dynamo has already envisioned how this lightweight tilt will play out in the Thai capital, and in typical Lee family fashion, he doesn’t think his Japanese rival will see the second frame.
Lee predicted:
“The way I see this fight playing out is that I get the finish in round one. That’s always my plan, always my priority going into any of my fights, but I believe that I’m just going to take whatever comes first. I’m going to work my striking and take him to the ground. Probably a TKO finish.”
