In his first bout in over a year, Kevin Lee dropped his opponent within the first minute of the fight.
Former UFC fighter Kevin Lee took a long break from MMA after his contract with UFC ended. Nevertheless, he is ready to get back into the cage. The fighter is eager to hit the reset button and work his way back to the top, starting with beating welterweight veteran Thiago Oliveira. The bout occurred at Hype Athletics in Wayne, Mich, Lee’s home state.
The fighter’s latest win puts him one step ahead of his goal to rejoin the UFC. Lee was formerly one of the top ten fighters in the promotion before retiring. However, after his return, Lee plans to get back up and battle UFC champion Islam Makhachev.
“I want to fight for a world title.” Lee said in an interview with MMA Fighting ahead of the Oliveira fight. “I just want to fight the best guys. Am I hung up on the organizations? Not really. I want to fight the best guys and the guys that really will give me a challenge, who people feel are unbeatable.
“I think it’s a shame I never got to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov. It’s a shame if I don’t ever get to fight Islam in his career. I think I pose threats for those guys that not a lot of other lightweights do. And I think a lot of people would, would agree with that. So it’d be kind of a shame if they go their whole careers and not fight a wrestler like me.”
The fighter is eager to achieve his full potential and work his way to the top.
“It feels like at the start of my career again — which in itself has a little bit of excitement to it,” Lee said. “It almost feels like a second chance. And It feels like a chance to do it all over again. It’s interesting. I don’t see many people going down this path, either. I don’t think a lot of guys, when they get to a certain level, that they’re willing to put their balls on the line. I’ve seen it happen over and over and over again with different guys, and I just don’t model myself after anybody.
“I’m going to do what I feel is in my heart to do. And it’s in my heart to fight and this is the fight that’s in front of me. This is the opportunity that God’s presented me and I’m going to make the most out of it.”
Lee has another fight booked for November 15. He will face Saul Almeida at Gamebred BareKnuckle in Biloxi, Mississippi.
