Dan Ige pleaded with people to stop using 18-year-old Victoria Lee's death to further conspiracy the

• Dan Ige pleaded with people to stop using Victoria Lee's death to further conspiracy theories.
• Angela Lee announced her 18-year-old sister's passing this month. Victoria died in December.
• "A girl so young, tons of potential, loved by so many — it's just heartbreaking," Ige told Insider.

LAS VEGAS — UFC fighter Dan Ige told Insider and other reporters Saturday that he hopes conspiracy theorists give the Lee family "the respect they deserve" after Victoria Lee died aged 18 in December.

"Give them freaking respect because that's their tragedy," Ige told us. "That's their loss. It's all of our losses."

Hawaii-based Lee was an up-and-coming athlete with Singapore fight firm One Championship.

Her older sister Angela, a champion fighter at One Championship, announced Victoria's passing on social media — news that stunned the MMA industry.

"Victoria was the most beautiful soul who ever lived," Angela said on Instagram. "She was the best little sister in the world."

One Championship boss Chatri Sityodtong said in a separate statement on Facebook: "I am heartbroken by Victoria Lee's passing."

Ige scored a thumping win Saturday and mentioned the Lee family in his victory speech

Backstage, Insider asked Ige if he could share his thoughts regarding Victoria's life, death, and what she meant to Hawaii.

"Honestly, it's super hard," Ige said. "I never knew Victoria. I know Christian, I know Angela, her husband, their dad, and when that news came out, a girl being so young, 18, with tons of potential and loved by so many — it's just heartbreaking. That's one of our own."

No cause of death has been given for Lee's death, which has fueled speculation online.

Ige addressed this Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas.

"I just pray that people give [the Lee family] respect because, on social media, everyone wants to come up with the conspiracy [that] it was the vaccine, or was it mental health. Was it this? was it that?

"But whoever's even coming up with these conspiracies,  give them some respect," said Ige.

"An 18-year-old passes, and they're gonna mourn that for the rest of their lives. We're gonna wake up Monday and read the newspaper and see what's next. It's an absolute tragedy.

"They were definitely weighing on my heart, and the only thing you can do is pray for them because she's gone, and there's no bringing her back."

Ige had won his fight in considerable style

Earlier in the evening, Insider was ringside for Ige's thumping, walk-off knockout win he struck against Damon Jackson in the second round of their featherweight fight.

The finish bucked a three-fight skid for Ige and advanced his pro-MMA record to 16 wins (five knockouts, five submissions, and six decisions) against six losses.

Watch his win right here: 

Elsewhere at the UFC's first event of 2023, Umar Nurmagomedov maintained his undefeated run with a knockout so incredible it fortified his reputation as future champion material.

Abdul Razak Alhassan, Allan Nascimento, and Javid Basharat, meanwhile, lit up the ESPN prelims with strong performances of their own.

The UFC's next live event is on January 21 as a pay-per-view show UFC 283, takes place in Rio de Janeiro. The company then returns to Las Vegas for another Fight Night event at the Apex on February 4.

Watch:

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