Kevin Lee isn`t exactly surprised by the skepticism surrounding his return to action in the PFL this Friday. Many observers are more doubtful than enthusiastic about his comeback.
At his peak, the now 32-year-old lightweight was a prominent contender in the UFC. He once competed for the interim lightweight title and delivered one of the promotion`s most spectacular knockouts, flattening Gregor Gillespie with a head kick in 2019. However, that knockout marked his final victory in the UFC, followed by a series of injuries, losses, and a shift in weight class that left his career path uncertain.
Following another significant layoff spent recovering from knee surgery, Lee returned to secure a win on the regional circuit last September. Now, he is scheduled to make his PFL debut against Gadzhi Rabadanov, an opponent riding an impressive 11-fight win streak, including three consecutive knockouts.
“A lot of people have written me off,” Lee acknowledged when speaking to MMA Fighting. “A lot of people have forgot about me and a lot of people have doubted me so it’s time to shut them up.”
He doesn`t heavily blame people for dismissing him, noting it`s been five years since he competed in the lightweight division, dating back to the beginning of the pandemic. Lee points out that the sport has grown significantly, attracting many new fans since the pandemic who don`t recall his performances in 2017, 2018, or 2019. He feels it`s necessary to “make my stamp and remind them who I am.”
In the period between his regional victory and joining the PFL roster, Lee actively campaigned for a return to the UFC. He even went as far as volunteering to appear on The Ultimate Fighter reality show, willing to do whatever it took to demonstrate he was genuinely back in peak condition.
Ultimately, the UFC didn`t express much interest in bringing Lee back into their fold. However, Lee holds no ill will towards the promotion regarding how things unfolded. While returning to the UFC was a goal, he admits his primary aim was proving he remains one of the best lightweights in the world, and his PFL debut provides that same kind of opportunity.
“No [I’m not disappointed], because this is the way things were supposed to happen,” Lee commented. “More than anything, I wanted to fight and prove myself as a top lightweight again. I got a guy who is one of the top lightweights right now. The best fighters aren’t always in the UFC. I think we’ve seen that over time.” He cited historical examples like Strikeforce, WEC, PRIDE, and observed recent PFL fighters performing well after moving to other promotions.
For Lee, the focus is on the fight itself. Facing a top lightweight like Rabadanov, after not competing at that weight class for over five years, presents an opportunity to prove he is “back up there.” He emphasized that the specific promotion wasn`t the most crucial factor, only needing “the right fight at the right time,” which is precisely how the current situation developed.
While his feelings towards the UFC are neutral, Lee certainly harbors resentment towards the Global Fight League (GFL). He signed with GFL as a free agent, attracted by promises of significant paydays and a busy fighting schedule.
After months of waiting for the promotion to launch, Lee was initially scheduled to compete at their inaugural event. However, the GFL suddenly cancelled its shows, leaving little hope that the organization will ever get off the ground.
Lee had previously hinted at filing a potential lawsuit against GFL and confirms he remains angry about the entire “crazy debacle.”
“I’ve been begging for a fight for over a year now,” Lee explained. “My knee has been healthy for at least the last six months. I’ve been ready to fight. The GFL thing was a crazy debacle. I’ve been with them for six months now, I gave them six months of my life for me to sit on the sidelines.” He stressed that this was not something he wanted and tried to ensure before signing that he wouldn`t lose six months of his career.
He reflected that such situations sometimes occur in MMA, particularly with newer promotions or promoters who “don’t necessarily know what they’re doing” or “make the right choices all the time,” stating that was the case with GFL.
Despite the frustrations, Lee did his best to take everything in stride. He later attended a PFL event where Rabadanov was competing. Watching the Russian fighter quickly dispatch a UFC veteran in just 32 seconds immediately piqued Lee`s interest. That night, he informed PFL officials he would be interested in potentially facing Rabadanov in the future.
An injury to Jay-Jay Wilson, who was originally scheduled to face Rabadanov, subsequently opened the door for Lee to sign with the PFL and secure the fight he had expressed interest in.
“I went to the PFL when they did the first round of the lightweights in Orlando — the only guy who interested me was Gadzhi,” Lee recounted. He noted Rabadanov`s speed, power, and accuracy in his rapid knockout of Marc Diakiese.
“So I told them I would be interested in joining the organization and especially for a fight like that,” he concluded. “Lo and behold like three weeks later, this guy gets hurts and they call me right away and I say yes. I don’t hesitate, no nothing. It’s what I wanted. It’s what I’m looking for and it’s time to rock and roll.”
Murray Blackwood