Angela Lee isn’t looking to make an impression. She’s looking to make history.

The undefeated 19-year-old will attempt to capture the biggest victory of her career when she faces Mei Yamaguchi for championship gold at ONE 41 this Friday night in Singapore. And while Lee has been capturing titles in various forms of competition for years, there is nothing that would mean more to her than carving out her place in the record books for ONE Championship.

Her bout against Yamaguchi will be her moment to shine the brightest. 

“It would be a dream come true,” Lee told FloCombat. “Not only being ONE’s first female champion, but also to be the first Asian female champion and youngest champion in the world as well. I’m thankful for this opportunity to represent the people of Asia and women all around the world.”

Lee’s roots are based in Hawaii, but she has a special connection to Singapore. Lee’s father is from “The Lion City,” and being able to compete in the place of her heritage is something she takes pride in. Despite the pressure, Lee believes her unbreakable focus will allow her to deflect distractions and embrace the moment.

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“There is always pressure to perform, but when I get in the cage I tune it all out,” Lee said. “In the cage it’s just me and my opponent. I train to finish fights and that’s what I’ll be looking to do Friday night. It’s both and honor and a privilege for me to represent Singapore.”

Nothing comes easy in the fight business. Lee is still in the early stages of her career, and she has faced many of the same obstacles her peers in women’s MMA have faced before her. Promotions often elect to push their female fighters from a different marketing perspective as their male counterparts. 

The scrappy Hawaiian is excited that ONE is focusing on her skills rather than her photogenic qualities. 

“It is true that it started that way. But MMA is quickly evolving,” Lee said. “The fans are now focusing on the amazing talent of the women in the sport.”

Although many fighters competing outside of the UFC have faced the unique challenge of trying to gain recognition beyond the sport’s biggest stage, Lee isn’t sweating the stigma. She’s confident she can hang with the best in the world and knows she’ll get out every bit of what she puts into her career.

“I feel like my skill set makes me highly competitive in any organization,” Lee said. “I fight to win and the championships are just a bonus.”