Kevin Lee doesn’t understand why UFC passed on Contender Series offer: ‘I think it would’ve been big’
Photo by Buda Mendes/Zuffa LLC
Kevin Lee is willing to take the road less traveled to get back into the UFC, or a major MMA promotion — which included offering to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series.
As Lee said in a past interview with Anik & Florian, the UFC denied his request, and now, the one-time interim UFC lightweight title challenger has two fights on the books. First up, his MMA return this Saturday when he faces Thiago Oliveira at Lights Out Championship 17 in his home state of Michigan. The bout marks Lee’s first fight since a 55-second stoppage loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov at UFC Vegas 76 in July 2023.
When asked why the Contender Series thought didn’t come to fruition, Lee still seemed a bit surprised.
“I think it [made] sense,” Lee told MMA Fighting. “I don’t know exactly what the problem is. I honestly don’t know. It’s not the numbers, right? I’ve heard Dana kind of brag about Belal Muhammad when he wrapped the belt around him and he bragged that he got more views than any other champion — and it was like 20 million views or something. But my brother [former fighter-turned-famous food vlogger Keith Lee] did a small video for me getting ready for my last fight in the APEX and, keep this in mind, this is a prelim APEX card fight, and my brother did a post and he got 12 million views compared to a champion that did 20 million views and Dana’s bragging about it, so I don’t think that’s the issue.
“I don’t think the issue is me not willing to show up and put on great fights because that’s all I’ve ever done. Honestly I can’t point to what the issue is. I don’t know. I offered to do that fight. I think it would have been big. I think it would have been great for Dana White’s Contender Series, but the offer is off the table at this point. I offered it. They said no, we’ll move on. No sweat off my brow.”
Lee now heads back to the regional MMA scene to face Oliveira, and less than two months later, the 32-year-old debuts for Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA promotion in Biloxi, Miss., at their eighth event, where he fights Saul Almeida.
For “The Motown Phenom,” the booking with Almeida happened quickly, and he couldn’t say yes fast enough.
“Anybody who is a professional fighter knows having that date really sets the training in motion,” Lee explained. “It really kind of gives you a sense of purpose almost. I’ve been fighting for a long, long time, so it’s not like I’m hung up on fighting for the UFC. That’s where I built my career and I feel like I’ve given a lot to the company, but if that’s not what’s next, then that’s not what’s next. I’ll fight somewhere else.
“And that’s what I’m going to do and maybe it is a part of it that I got to show my worth to them still. It’s a little crazy to say that at this point in my career given how much I’ve actually done for the company. But I think I’m very opinionated, and I think that may have rubbed Dana the wrong [way] a few times. I made some comments about the APEX, and I guess that may be [something that bothered him]. But listen, this is what I do. This is part of being me. If people ask me a question, I give them a true and honest answer. And at the same time, I’ve never done anybody wrong in this industry — from media guys, to publicists, the PR, everybody in the backstage of the UFC, I feel like everybody I’ve touched, I’ve done right. So at the end of the day I hold my head up, we fight this next fight on Saturday.”
The journey back to where Lee feels he belongs in the current pantheon of the sport begins this weekend. On paper, Lee would certainly be a heavy favorite against the 30-fight pro in Oliveira, but that doesn’t mean there’s a lot of weight on his shoulders in regards to where the result may take him.
“A little more relaxed, but at the same time, there’s still a ton of pressure when I go back home and I’m not a world champion,” Lee said. “Yeah, sure, I fought for a belt, but I’m not a world champion. So I feel like I still have a lot left to prove, and yeah there’s a ton of pressure. With experience comes a little bit more relaxation. With experience comes like, ‘OK, I just know how these feelings go, and I know how to control them.’ But there’s a ton of pressure and I’m definitely feeling it for this fight.
“I’m going to whoop his ass. I’m going to show there’s levels to the fight game, and at the end of the day, I’m going to show that I’m back and I’m healthy, and I’m ready to compete at 155 pounds. I know this fight is at 170, but that’s because of the short notice. I’m coming back, I’m ready to compete at 155 pounds, and [show] I can still compete with the best of the 155 pounders.”
