Not many martial artists get to become world champions. Even fewer get the opportunity to do so in multiple disciplines by the age of just 24. On Friday Night, 26 May, Istela Nunes has that chance at ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES.

The two-time Muay Thai world champion will vie for the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship against “Unstoppable” Angela Lee, an international superstar who has sat at the top of the division’s ladder since defeating Mei Yamaguchi a year ago.

Brazil’s Nunes brings an unbeaten 5-0 (1 NC) record with her as challenger, which also includes a win over Yamaguchi. The champion, Lee, is also undefeated at 7-0, and this gives this tilt all the markings of a potentially explosive spectacle when the pair meet in the main event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The similarities do not end at the records, as both athletes can cite their families as the biggest influences on their martial arts journeys. Although Nunes’ father was not her coach - unlike the Lee family - it was him who ushered his children towards it, and supported them on the path to success.

At age 5, Nunes took up capoeira with her older and younger brothers, but she eventually made the switch to Muay Thai when she was 10. Though she enjoyed the training, there was a catalyst to her becoming competitive — a gym bully.

Although Nunes trained in Muay Thai purely for recreation with no thoughts of competing, there was a boy at her gym who always picked on her. This caused her to train more seriously, to the point that she was able to defeat that boy. 

“Three months after that, I had my first professional fight and fell in love with Muay Thai,” recalls Nunes.

These kinds of situations in a child’s formative years can make or break a person. Thankfully, Nunes found the strength to beat the bully at his own game, which is inspirational in itself. However, then going on to claim world titles and operate at the sport’s elite level was another matter altogether.

Success did not come easily though. A career in combat sports rarely does. There is sacrifice, and hour after hour of hard training. There has to be a real hunger to keep an athlete motivated to succeed. Nunes was hungry – literally.

“I spent a lot of time away from my family and everyone to sleep on mats, and to choose between eating lunch or dinner, because that is all I had,” the Brazilian recalls. 

Those sacrifices earned her the WMF and WMO Muay Thai World Titles, as well as the distinction of being the first Brazilian woman to win a world championship in Thailand.

The titles and success were worth it at the time, but Nunes decided to take a step back after amassing a 52-4 record and hitting a ceiling within the sport. A complete lifestyle change saw her go to the comforts of a day job, with guaranteed money at the end of the month and food in her stomach. However, for someone who has achieved so much, there was still a competitive itch to be scratched.

Ultimately, that led Nunes to a much-needed new challenge. She picked up Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which then led her to full-blown mixed martial arts competition, where she could combine her already extensive striking knowledge with a newfound grappling prowess.

In less than two years, the Brazilian heroine has made a massive name for herself. With five victories under her belt and a fantastic debut win over Mei Yamaguchi in her first ONE Championship outing, she fought her way into title contention. Now, she gets the chance to become the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion, though she has a formidable challenge ahead in Lee.

It would be hard to achieve so much in such a short space of time without having a solid support network around her. Nunes’ father, who set her on the right track in her early years, was always there to believe in her and motivate her, along with her mother and siblings.

Sadly, she lost her father six months ago, but she is determined to succeed in his memory, and that is all the motivation she will need as her date with destiny on 26 May approaches.

“I think that this fight now will be for him,” she says. “I cannot dedicate it anyone else.”