Mixed Martial Arts fighter Angela Lee, left, of Singapore and wearing a Santa hat, and Lena Tkhorevska of Poland pose for the media following the official weigh-in ceremony for the mixed martial arts bout dubbed One Championship, at the Mall of Asia Arena at suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines on December 10, 2015. Angela Lee, a Vancouver-born mixed martial arts fighter, is recovering after a car accident in Hawaii. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported the One Championship female world atomweight champion will miss her title defence scheduled for Nov. 24 in Singapore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Bullit Marquez
November 09, 2017 - 12:25 PM
HONOLULU - Angela Lee, a Vancouver-born mixed martial arts fighter, is recovering after a car accident in Hawaii.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported the One Championship female world atomweight champion will miss her title defence scheduled for Nov. 24 in Singapore.
One Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong wrote on his Facebook page Lee was driving to training on Monday when she fell asleep. He said Lee suffered a concussion and some minor burns.
"If she was not wearing a seatbelt, it would have most certainly been a different story," he said.
Sityodtong didn't indicate when Lee would return to fighting.
"We are all blessed and relieved that Angela will make a full recovery," he said. "Please join me in sending love, prayers, and positive energy to Angela and her family."
Sityodtong didn't immediately respond to a Facebook message from The Associated Press seeking comment.
One Championship is a Singapore-based promotion that dominates the burgeoning Asian market for professional MMA.
Lee is a former Hawaii state wrestling champion and the daughter of two martial arts instructors. She was born in Vancouver and raised in Hawaii by her South Korean mother and Singaporean father.
Lee became the first female MMA world champion from Hawaii with a unanimous decision over Mei Yamaguchi in May 2016. She was scheduled to defend her title in a rematch against Yamaguchi later this month.
Lee, 21, announced her engagement to fellow fighter Bruno Pucci last month.
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Information from: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, http://www.staradvertiser.com
News from © The Associated Press, 2017