ONE: Ascent To Power preview as history beckons in Singapore

The card this Friday will be one of ONE Championship's biggest of the year and history will be made in the main and co-main events

Angela Lee (ONE Championship)

On Friday, midday London time, ONE: Ascent To Power will take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium with a card full of great fights and history-making featured bouts.

The headliner will see 19-year-old teenage sensation, Angela Lee, face Mei Yamaguchi in the inaugural women's atomweight title fight in one of the most highly anticipated MMA fights this summer. Despite her young age, Lee has already proven her fantastic talent with five career victories all of which have been won inside the distance via submission including a 'Twister' lock that gave her the third win in her ONE Championship career.

Lee certainly has a lot of pressure on her shoulders heading into Friday but in recent interviews she's played this down and reiterated she has the tools to get the job done.

“This fight is going to be the most important of my life,” said Lee, who made her professional MMA debut last year. “I truly believe that since I started my martial arts journey, it’s been my destiny to become a world champion. All my hard work and all my training is going to pay off.”

Standing across the mat from her on Friday will be Mei Yamaguchi, a gritty Japanese fighter who has been in the sport a lot longer than Lee with over twenty-four bouts. Yamaguchi is regarded as one of the biggest female stars in Japanese combat sports and thinks Friday night could be the opportunity to inspire another generation of Japanese female fighters.

“I know there are a lot of girls in Japan who do Karate and Judo. I know a lot compete in that. If they see another girl in professional sports, and see that you’re able to make a living with it, you can inspire a lot of fans,” said Yamaguchi, who began her professional MMA career nearly 10 years ago.

“In the United States, MMA is really big. I know that Asian women are strong, and if they start to learn MMA, I know [the sport] is going to be big! I know a lot of good [female] athletes who can fight in MMA. This is really big. There are really good women fighters in Japan but I can show that to the world by winning this title.”

ONE Championship chairman, Chatri Sityodtong, earlier in the week talked about the significance of the bout for the further expansion of ONE Championship and said that he was expecting both Lee and Yamaguchi to put on an entertaining show for the fans on Friday morning.

"It's only a matter of time before Singapore has its own world champion, and Angela has that chance," said Chatri. "It's a fantastic opportunity for her. But on the flip side, if Mei wins, it will be a huge moment for Japan too."

While the main event promises fireworks, there is also a very entertaining undercard beforehand and in the co-main event where more history will be made.

In the evening’s co-main event, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Roger Gracie of the Gracie fighting family returns to ONE Championship seeking to continue his winning ways. In Gracie’s last bout, he overcame a dangerous James McSweeney to win via third-round technical knockout at ONE: Warrior's Way. This time, Gracie takes on unbeaten contender Michal Pasternak for the inaugural ONE Light Heavyweight World Championship.

Christian “The Warrior” Lee, younger brother of Angela “Unstoppable” Lee will also be in action on Friday. Lee has impressed in his first few outings in ONE Championship and is riding the momentum of three stoppage wins inside the ONE Cage, two by highlight-reel knockout and the other by crafty submission. Lee looks to continue his early success but will face a stern test when he takes on the Philippines’ Cary Bullos.

And for those wondering, 'Amir Khan' featuring on the bout list below is not a typo. While his namesake may be competing in a high-rolling boxing clash with Saul Alvarez in Las Vegas this weekend, Amir Khan, featherweight of ONE Championship will also be in action against John Zhang.

ONE: Ascent To Power - Starts Friday midday

Angela Lee vs. Mei Yamaguchi 115 lbs

Roger Gracie vs. Michał Pasternak 205 lbs

Amir Khan vs. John Zhang 145 lbs

Tatsuya Mizuno vs. Mohamed Ali 185 lbs

Cary Bullos vs. Christian Lee 145 lbs

J. Narantungalag vs. Kotetsu Boku 145 lbs

Brad Robinson vs. A. Thangalapani 194 lbs

S. Arslanaliev vs. Jia Wen Ma 155 lbs

Benedict Ang vs. Jimmy Yabo 145 lbs

You can watch Angela Lee vs Mei Yamaguchi this Friday at www.onefc.com/livestream