Kevin Lee News

Kevin Lee announces he's set to make bare-knuckle debut, signs with Gamebred FC
Cole Shelton - September 17, 2024
Former UFC interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee announced his next fight will be in bare-knuckle. Lee took to social media to announce he has signed with Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred FC promotion. Gamebred FC is a bare-knuckle MMA promotion, and Lee will be making his debut at Gamebred FC 8 on November 15 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

Kevin Lee reveals he's willing to fight on Contender Series to get back in the UFC
Cole Shelton - September 11, 2024
Former UFC interim title challenger Kevin Lee is willing to fight on the Contender Series to try and get back in the UFC. Lee last fought in July of 2023. There, he suffered a 55-second submission loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov at UFC Vegas 76. It was his return to the Octagon, and after the loss, he was released from the promotion.

WATCH | Kevin Lee releases training footage ahead of comeback, promises to face top lightweight in return
Josh Evanoff - May 27, 2024
Former title challenger Kevin Lee is almost ready to make his UFC return. ‘The Motown Phenom’ has had a rough last few years. Kevin Lee last competed in July 2021, against Rinat Fakhretdinov. The bout was his first in well over a year, and his first back in the octagon since being released from the UFC in August 2021. Ultimately, Lee was choked out inside of a round by the welterweight contender.

Returning Kevin Lee targets rematch with Tony Ferguson, eventual bouts with Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler
Josh Evanoff - February 7, 2024
UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee has a few names in mind for his impending return. Earlier this month, ‘The Motown Phenom’ announced plans to return to the cage. Last summer, Kevin Lee retired following a first-round submission loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov. For the former UFC title challenger, the bout was his first back in the Dana White-led company after being released in 2021.

Kevin Lee announces he’s ending his MMA retirement: "I’m dropping weight and getting into shape now"
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2024
Kevin Lee will be ending his retirement from MMA. Lee announced his retirement back in July, in a move that surprised many. The 3o-year-old took to Instagram where he revealed that injuries played a massive role in why he decided to step away from MMA.

Kevin Lee issues response to teary-eyed Sean Strickland after fight challenge
Josh Evanoff - July 28, 2023
The saga between UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland and Kevin Lee continues. ‘Tarzan’ last defeated Abus Magomedov earlier this month in the main event of UFC Vegas 76. Meanwhile, ‘The Motown Phenom’ made his return on the undercard, suffering a first-round submission loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov. Following the defeat, Kevin Lee announced his retirement.

Michael Chiesa responds to Kevin Lee’s claims that he turned down a short-notice fight: “He f**king fed you guys a bunch of sh*t”
Harry Kettle - July 27, 2023
Michael Chiesa has rejected a claim from Kevin Lee that he offered to step in and fight him on short notice. After more than 18 months away, Michael Chiesa will return to the Octagon this weekend to face Kevin Holland. He’s currently riding a two-fight losing streak, with his hope being that he can bounce back in Salt Lake City.

Kevin Lee admits he should've retired after Charles Oliveira loss: "I don't move the same"
Josh Evanoff - July 18, 2023
Former UFC lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee has reflected on his 2020 loss to Charles Oliveira. ‘The Motown Phenom’ announced his retirement following a loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov earlier this month. That was Kevin Lee’s first fight back with the company after a 2021 release, and it’ll be his final. Following the first-round submission defeat, the lightweight contender announced his retirement.

Kevin Lee discusses his “very hot and cold” relationship with UFC President Dana White: “They get p***ed at me for saying certain things”
Susan Cox - July 17, 2023
Kevin Lee is discussing his ‘very hot and cold’ relationship with UFC President, Dana White. ‘The Motown Phenom’ (19-8 MMA) has had a rough go of it as of late, having only won 2 of his last 5 fights in the Octagon. Lee’s most recent loss came earlier this month at UFC Vegas 76 against Rinat Fakhretdinov (21-1 MMA) via way of guillotine choke (see that here).

Kevin Lee explains why he is retiring from MMA at age 30
Cole Shelton - July 11, 2023
Kevin Lee has opened up on why he decided to retire at age 30. Lee surprised many on Tuesday morning when he took to the new social media platform Threads to announce his retirement. After the short post, ‘The Motown Phenom’ took to Instagram to detail why he decided to retire from MMA at just 30 years old. Even though he is walking away from the sport, Kevin Lee says he is happy with his career as he never backed away from any challenge, but injuries have caused him to retire.

Kevin Lee announces his retirement from the UFC
Susan Cox - July 11, 2023
Kevin Lee has announced his retirement from the UFC. ‘The Motown Phenom’ (18-8 MMA) most recently fought Rinat Fakhretdinov (21-1 MMA) on Saturday July 1st in a welterweight bout. The outcome was a submission win for ‘Gladiator’ at 0:55 of Round 1.

Coach says he saw 'warning signs' ahead of Kevin Lee's failed UFC comeback
Susan Cox - July 5, 2023
Coach Javier Mendez says he saw ‘warning signs’ ahead of Kevin Lee’s failed comeback at UFC Vegas 76. Kevin Lee (19-8 MMA) returned to the Octagon to face Rinat Fakhretdinov (21-1 MMA) this past Saturday, July 1st at UFC Vegas 76. Unfortunately for Lee, he was defeated by guillotine choke at 00 :55 of Round 1.

UFC Vegas 76 Results: Rinat Fakhretdinov stops Kevin Lee in Round 1 (Video)
Chris Taylor - July 1, 2023
We have you covered for all of tonight’s UFC Vegas 76 results, including the featured prelim between Kevin Lee and Rinat Fakhretdinov. Lee (19-7 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since March of 2022, where he scored a decision win over Diego Sanchez under the Eagle FC fight banner. ‘The Motown Phenom’ has gone 3-4 over his past seven fights overall.

Kevin Lee reveals the holes he saw in Khabib Nurmagomedov which he would've exploited
Cole Shelton - June 29, 2023
Kevin Lee has finally revealed the holes he saw in Khabib Nurmagomedov’s game. For years – even before Nurmagomedov was the champ – Lee said he saw holes in the undefeated Dagestani fighter’s game. Even when Nurmagomedov became the champ and beat the likes of Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, Kevin Lee still insisted he saw holes in Nurmagomedov’s game but wouldn’t say what it was.

Kevin Lee elaborates on UFC Apex criticism: "We're killing the sport for money"
Josh Evanoff - June 29, 2023
UFC welterweight contender Kevin Lee believes the promotion needs to badly leave the Apex. ‘The Motown Phenom’ has been out of action since Eagle FC 46 last March. There, the former lightweight title challenger scored a unanimous decision win over Diego Sanchez, snapping a two-fight losing streak. While Kevin Lee exited the UFC in late 2021, that win over ‘The Nightmare’ was enough to bring him back.

Kevin Lee explains the difference between the old and new version of himself ahead of UFC Vegas 76: "I’ve got unproved and unfinished business"
Cole Shelton - June 28, 2023
Kevin Lee believes he is a much different fighter ahead of his UFC return. Lee is set to return to the Octagon at UFC Vegas 76 where he will meet Rinat Fakhretdinov at welterweight. The Michigan native was of course previously let go by the promotions after he lost back-to-back fights to Charles Oliveira and Daniel Rodriguez. After being cut, Kevin Lee signed with Eagle FC and scored a decision win over Diego Sanchez.

Kevin Lee booked to make UFC return on July 1 in Las Vegas
Cole Shelton - May 17, 2023
Kevin Lee has his UFC return fight booked. According to MMA Underground’s John Morgan, Lee is set to make his UFC return on July 1 against Rinat Fakhretdinov at welterweight. The event will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event of the card sees Sean Strickland taking on Abus Magomedov.

Kevin Lee believes heavyweight champion Jon Jones paid "homage" to him at the UFC 285 Press Conference
Harry Kettle - March 20, 2023
UFC fighter Kevin Lee believes Jon Jones paid tribute to him with his attire at the UFC 285 press conference earlier this month. After leaving the UFC in search of pastures new, Kevin Lee is back. He was re-signed by the company earlier this year with the expectation being that he’ll compete at some point in 2023.