Kevin Lee is keen to take the highway much less traveled to get again into the UFC, or a serious MMA promotion — which included providing to compete on Dana White’s Contender Collection.
As Lee stated in a previous interview with Anik & Florian, the UFC denied his request, and now, the one-time interim UFC light-weight title challenger has two fights on the books. First up, his MMA return this Saturday when he faces Thiago Oliveira at Lights Out Championship 17 in his residence state of Michigan. The bout marks Lee’s first battle since a 55-second stoppage loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov at UFC Vegas 76 in July 2023.
When requested why the Contender Collection thought didn’t come to fruition, Lee nonetheless appeared a bit stunned.
“I believe it [made] sense,” Lee advised MMA Preventing. “I don’t know precisely what the issue is. I truthfully don’t know. It’s not the numbers, proper? I’ve heard Dana type of brag about Belal Muhammad when he wrapped the belt round him and he bragged that he received extra views than every other champion — and it was like 20 million views or one thing. However my brother [former fighter-turned-famous food vlogger Keith Lee] did a small video for me preparing for my final battle within the APEX and, preserve this in thoughts, it is a prelim APEX card battle, and my brother did a put up and he received 12 million views in comparison with a champion that did 20 million views and Dana’s bragging about it, so I don’t suppose that’s the problem.
“I don’t suppose the problem is me not keen to point out up and placed on nice fights as a result of that’s all I’ve ever performed. Truthfully I can’t level to what the problem is. I don’t know. I supplied to try this battle. I believe it might have been large. I believe it might have been nice for Dana White’s Contender Collection, however the supply is off the desk at this level. I supplied it. They stated no, we’ll transfer on. No sweat off my forehead.”
Lee now heads again to the regional MMA scene to face Oliveira, and fewer than two months later, the 32-year-old debuts for Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA promotion in Biloxi, Miss., at their eighth occasion, the place he fights Saul Almeida.
For “The Motown Phenom,” the reserving with Almeida occurred shortly, and he couldn’t say sure quick sufficient.
“Anyone who’s an expert fighter is aware of having that date actually units the coaching in movement,” Lee defined. “It actually type of offers you a way of function virtually. I’ve been combating for a protracted, very long time, so it’s not like I’m hung up on combating for the UFC. That’s the place I constructed my profession and I really feel like I’ve given rather a lot to the corporate, but when that’s not what’s subsequent, then that’s not what’s subsequent. I’ll battle elsewhere.
“And that’s what I’m going to do and possibly it is part of it that I received to point out my price to them nonetheless. It’s slightly loopy to say that at this level in my profession given how a lot I’ve truly performed for the corporate. However I believe I’m very opinionated, and I believe that will have rubbed Dana the flawed [way] just a few occasions. I made some feedback in regards to the APEX, and I assume which may be [something that bothered him]. However hear, that is what I do. That is a part of being me. If folks ask me a query, I give them a real and sincere reply. And on the similar time, I’ve by no means performed anyone flawed on this trade — from media guys, to publicists, the PR, all people within the backstage of the UFC, I really feel like all people I’ve touched, I’ve performed proper. So on the finish of the day I maintain my head up, we battle this subsequent battle on Saturday.”
The journey again to the place Lee feels he belongs within the present pantheon of the game begins this weekend. On paper, Lee would definitely be a heavy favourite in opposition to the 30-fight professional in Oliveira, however that doesn’t imply there’s a number of weight on his shoulders with reference to the place the end result might take him.
“A bit of extra relaxed, however on the similar time, there’s nonetheless a ton of stress after I return residence and I’m not a world champion,” Lee stated. “Yeah, certain, I fought for a belt, however I’m not a world champion. So I really feel like I nonetheless have rather a lot left to show, and yeah there’s a ton of stress. With expertise comes slightly bit extra leisure. With expertise comes like, ‘OK, I simply know the way these emotions go, and I understand how to regulate them.’ However there’s a ton of stress and I’m positively feeling it for this battle.
“I’m going to whoop his ass. I’m going to point out there’s ranges to the battle sport, and on the finish of the day, I’m going to point out that I’m again and I’m wholesome, and I’m able to compete at 155 kilos. I do know this battle is at 170, however that’s due to the quick discover. I’m coming again, I’m able to compete at 155 kilos, and [show] I can nonetheless compete with one of the best of the 155 pounders.”
