Adrian Lee will face Shozo Isojima in a lightweight MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 40 on Thursday, February 13, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, nearly a year after their originally scheduled matchup was postponed due to injury.
The February clash will mark the first time both fighters compete since suffering defeats to Tye Ruotolo via rear-naked choke. Lee fell to Ruotolo in the second round during their September encounter at ONE Fight Night 35, while Isojima submitted to the same technique in November at ONE 173.
Lee burst onto the scene in June 2024 with three consecutive submission victories that earned him $50,000 performance bonuses in each outing. The 19-year-old Hawaiian established himself as the youngest member of the legendary Lee family to compete in ONE Championship, showcasing grappling skills that drew immediate attention throughout the lightweight division.
His setback against Ruotolo represents his first professional defeat after an impressive start that suggested championship potential. Lee seeks to reignite the momentum he built during his initial three-fight run and prove his early success wasn't temporary but rather the foundation of a championship trajectory.
Isojima experienced a similarly brief ONE Championship tenure before meeting Ruotolo. The 28-year-old Japanese fighter earned a $50,000 bonus for his promotional debut victory over Nicolas Vigna at ONE Fight Night 36 in October, demonstrating the finishing ability that made him a fighter worth watching.
His subsequent loss to Ruotolo came just weeks after that impressive debut, creating the same redemption storyline that Lee carries into their rescheduled meeting. Isojima aims to improve his record to 7-1 while establishing himself as a legitimate contender in the competitive lightweight division.
For Lee, defeating a member of the Japanese MMA community would provide validation that his skills translate against international competition beyond his initial three opponents. His family legacy creates additional pressure and expectations that make each performance carry extra significance as he attempts to establish his own championship credentials.
Isojima recognizes that defeating a Lee family member would represent a career-defining moment that separates him from other lightweights. The Japanese fighter seeks to prove his promotional debut wasn't his performance ceiling but rather an introduction to sustained success.
