Kevin Lee is set to make his PFL debut against a challenging opponent. The former UFC interim lightweight title contender has faced a period of inconsistency and inactivity but is now returning to major competition. He will face Gadzhi Rabadanov, the winner of the 2024 PFL tournament, in a semi-final bout next month.
Lee is stepping in as a replacement for the injured Jay-Jay Wilson. This opportunity immediately puts him in a strong position for a potential title run. However, his first hurdle is Rabadanov, known as a protégé of the renowned Khabib Nurmagomedov and a formidable lightweight contender.
Kevin Lee Confirms PFL Debut Against 2024 Tournament Champion
The PFL officially announced today via a press release that Kevin Lee has signed a multi-fight deal and will be returning to major league mixed martial arts. Fans were surprised by how quickly his debut is scheduled, set for June 20 in Wichita, Kansas.
Lee confirmed the news himself with a brief statement on his Instagram page. Alongside a photo, he wrote: “It’s official, I’m stepping into the PFL lightweight tournament against the #1 ranked guy June 20th.”
The accomplished wrestler, Lee, is now scheduled to headline the lightweight division event against the 2024 champion Rabadanov, replacing Jay-Jay Wilson. The winner of this semi-final bout will advance to face the victor of the other semi-final between Brent Primus and Alfie Davis.
Lee`s most recent fight was in September under the Lights Out Promotions banner, where he secured a submission win over Thiago Oliveira in less than two minutes. A planned bare-knuckle MMA fight in November was canceled. Now, he faces a significant challenge in Rabadanov, widely considered one of the top lightweights globally.
Kevin Lee Eyes PFL Domination Following Surprise Return Announcement
If Lee manages to defeat Rabadanov, he would immediately become a strong favorite to win the entire tournament. Rabadanov convincingly defeated Brent Primus in last year`s final, and Alfie Davis is relatively less experienced at this elite level, positioning the winner of the Lee vs. Rabadanov fight favorably.
Winning the tournament would provide Lee with a substantial $500,000 prize, in addition to his standard fight pay. It would also likely make him a prime contender for Usman Nurmagomedov`s world title in the PFL Champions Series. Since his competitive fight with Paul Hughes in January, Usman Nurmagomedov has been seeking new opponents.
While many fans desire a rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes, Usman appears open to facing a fresh challenger. If Kevin Lee were to defeat Rabadanov, who is a teammate of Khabib/Usman, and then win the tournament, it would create a compelling narrative and establish a strong, merit-based contender for Usman`s title.
Gareth Pendleton