Yong Jae Lee is a veteran of the early Korean mixed martial arts scene who competed during the formative years of promotions such as ROAD FC, RFC (Rising On Fire), Angel’s Fighting Championship, and several regional organizations throughout Asia. Known by the nickname “Sniper,” Yong Jae Lee built a reputation as a well-rounded finisher with victories by both knockout and submission while representing the respected Apgujeong Gym. His career spanned nearly a decade, during which he faced several notable domestic and international opponents as Korean MMA expanded onto the regional stage.

Very little verified public information is available regarding Yong Jae Lee’s early life before beginning his professional MMA career. He was born in South Korea on March 1, 1983, and eventually joined Apgujeong Gym, one of Korea’s most respected MMA teams during the early 2010s. Under the gym’s system, Yong Jae Lee developed into a professional lightweight and later competed internationally throughout Asia.

Yong Jae Lee was a versatile mixed martial artist capable of ending fights both on the feet and on the mat.

Across his professional victories, he recorded five wins by knockout or TKO and three by submission, demonstrating finishing ability regardless of where the fight unfolded. While primarily known as a striker early in his career, Yong Jae Lee continued to develop his grappling and later earned several rear-naked choke victories during the latter stages of his career.

Yong Jae Lee made his professional debut in late 2008 and gradually established himself on the Korean regional circuit before joining ROAD FC during the promotion’s early expansion.

His first ROAD FC appearances came in 2012, where he earned victories over Sung Ho Song and Hyung Seok Lee before facing former DEEP Lightweight Champion Katsunori Kikuno. Although Lee was submitted in the opening round, the opportunity reflected the promotion’s willingness to match Korean prospects against experienced international talent.

Yong Jae Lee later competed in RFC (Rising On Fire), where he posted a 3-1 record, including multiple first-round stoppages. In 2014 Yong Jae Lee returned to ROAD FC but suffered a first-round TKO loss to Doo Je Jung at ROAD FC Korea 1.

Following his ROAD FC tenure, Yong Jae Lee continued competing internationally. Yong Jae Lee recorded a second-round rear-naked choke victory over Nosherwan Khanzada in Hong Kong before returning to Korea to defeat Dong Ho Han by first-round rear-naked choke at Angel’s Fighting 4 in 2017. His final professional bout came later that year in Macau, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Dylan Fussell in the main event of JUST Challenge.

Although Yong Jae Lee never captured a major championship, he remained a respected veteran who consistently accepted difficult matchups during an era when Korean fighters were helping establish the country’s regional MMA scene.

• Veteran of nearly a decade in professional MMA
• Competed in ROAD FC, Angel’s Fighting Championship, RFC, IMPI World Series and JUST Challenge
• Represented Apgujeong Gym throughout his career
• Eight of nine professional victories came by finish
• Defeated opponents by both knockout and submission on the international stage

Yong Jae Lee’s career reflects the path of many Korean fighters who competed during the early expansion of professional MMA in Asia. Rather than building a record against limited competition, he consistently accepted challenging bouts across several promotions and countries. Although Yong Jae Lee’s career concluded in 2017, his contributions remain part of the generation that helped establish Korean fighters as regular competitors on the Asian regional circuit.