Undefeated mixed martial artists Ben Askren and Angela Lee will headline and co-headline “ONE: Immortal Pursuit” n Singapore on November 24, 2017. The announcement was made by ONE Championship chief executive officer Chatri Sityodtong on September 4, 2017.
Asken and Lee are respective reigning welterweight and atomweight champions of ONE Championship, which is based in Singapore. At “ONE Championship: Immortal Pursuit,” the two will both will have a Japanese opponent.
Lee will have a rematch with Mei “V.V.” Yamaguchi. Askren will be challenged by Shinya Aoki, a former ONE Lightweight World Champion.
On May 6, 2016, Lee defeated Yamaguchi at “ONE: Ascent to Power”. They have both fought Istela Nunes of Brazil.
On August 13, 2016, Nunes defeated Yamaguchi via split decision at “ONE: Heroes of the World.” The Brazilian MMA fighter had her first professional MMA loss when Lee submitted her via anaconda choke submission on May 26, 2017 “ONE: Dynasty of Heroes”, which marked the first time Asken and Lee headlined and co-headlined an MMA event in Singapore together.
On September 2, 2017, Askren defeated Zebaztian Kadestam via technical knockout via punches at “ONE Championship: Shanghai”. “ONE: Immortal Pursuit” will be Askren’s 18th MMA fight, which will also be his last, according to Sityodtong.
“In what will be a ferocious contest between two great white sharks, Shinya Aoki and Ben Askren have decided to lay it all on the line,” Sityodtong wrote. “Win or lose, this fight will be Ben’s last. Ben has made the decision to retire after this fight to become an executive at ONE. You do not want to miss this mega event in Singapore!”
Sityodtong also said Lee and Yamaguchi had agreed to “what will arguably be the most anticipated rematch in the history of martial arts in Asia.” The ONE Championship added that this will be the first time in ONE history that two athletes from the same team will go to battle for a world title, referring to Askren and Aoki, who are Evolve MMA teammates.
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