Returning Kevin Lee targets rematch with Tony Ferguson, eventual bouts with Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler
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.
Ultimately, Kevin Lee’s retirement was short-lived, but he’s still on the mend. In that loss to ‘Gladiator’ last July, the lightweight contender tore his ACL. The injury was his second, in as many fights. In one fight previous to facing Fakhretdinov, he tore his ACL facing Diego Sanchez in Eagle FC.
Recovery aside, Kevin Lee does have a few names in mind that he wants upon his return. Speaking in a recent interview with MiddleEasy, the lightweight called for fights with Tony Ferguson, and the winner and loser of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler. ‘El Cucuy’ is currently unbooked as of now, while the latter two men are fresh off their roles on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’.
Kevin Lee calls for fights with Tony Ferguson, Conor McGregor, and Michael Chandler
“Yeah, there’s a couple of great fights [that I’m interested in].” Kevin Lee stated in an interview with MiddleEasy earlier this week discussing plans for his UFC return. “Tony Ferguson, maybe the winner or loser of Conor [McGregor] and [Michael] Chandler. There are a couple of [fights I want], but I’m honestly not focused too much on opponents right now. I’ve got a long road ahead of me as far as, for one, getting healthy.”
He continued, “Two, getting into shape. Three, signing a contract, and then maybe we can look at location. Then we can talk about opponents. So, it’s far down the road for me to be thinking about opponents right now.”
Back in October 2017, Kevin Lee faced Tony Ferguson with UFC interim lightweight gold on the line. Despite having early success in the contest, ‘The Motown Phenom’ wound up suffering a third-round submission loss. As far as ‘El Cucuy’ is concerned these days, he’s currently riding a seven-fight losing streak. Ferguson last suffered a loss to Paddy Pimblett in December by unanimous decision.
Kevin Lee also mentioned facing Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler, but there are a lot of unknowns about both those men. ‘The Notorious’ called for a return at UFC 300 in April, but those plans never came to fruition. Instead, it appeared that they would fight at International Fight Week in late June.
However, Dana White came out earlier today and announced that Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler will instead take place in the fall. Still, the UFC executive gave no estimated date for the contest itself.
What do you make of these comments from UFC lightweight Kevin Lee? Who do you want to see him fight in his return later this year?
