Sometimes athletes just have enigmatic careers, leaving us to scratch our heads. This is the case for “The Motown Phenom” Kevin Lee. And it now has a question entering our minds: Does Kevin Lee stay or does he break away from the UFC?
Is he as good as a wrestler as Islam Makhachev? No. Can he grapple as well as Colby Covington? No. However, he is decent. And he’s in a fog right now, with solutions limited. Injuries aside, which he’s gone through a plethora of them; is the least of his issues.
The Word From His Peers
Going back up to welterweight he said he was a Top Five fighter at 170, and a threat to Kamaru Usman’s title reign. Well; after being outworked by Daniel Rodriguez and dropping a unanimous decision some in the division spoke as well.
? Top 5 right? We all saw ??♂️
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) August 29, 2021
He ain’t do that to me
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) August 29, 2021
I dont think Kevin Lee would have took down and held down Khabib lol
— David Michaud (@bulldawg_170) August 29, 2021
However, Lee wasn’t all bad versus “D-Rod”. He did have a couple of bright spots. But after the grueling fight, the distraught fighter fell into the trap most humans do immediately after something goes sideways. He went to social media. The 28-year old Vegas native went on Instagram Live and said;
“Well, that was a s*** fight”
In the post-fight presser, UFC President Dana White was asked about him. And his comment lends to the thought process that Lee is on thin ice. White said;
“That’s a thing we’ll get together on Tuesday and talk about, and figure out what’s next for him; ahhh ya know… here or not here”.
Does Kevin Lee Stay
Fighters have held onto their roster spots in much worse situations than Lee finds himself in. And although he is 2-5 since his interim-title fight with Tony Ferguson it’s hard to picture elsewhere. And immediately to mind, that elsewhere location MIGHT be with Scott Coker and Bellator.
His younger brother Keith, who is also struggling right now is there. And when he has come to corner him, the elder Lee raves at how fighters there are treated. Which has been a major calling card for Coker through the years. The only problem would be, how’d he fit at 155 or 170.
If he stayed in the UFC, the path to a title is incredibly tough in either division. And with the talent that’s been cut or retired, it truly says something. But it doesn’t exactly get easier in Bellator. At lightweight you not only have the Pitbulls, but in addition, A.J. McKee has teased a move up. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s teammates are there, as is the slick young star Aviv Gozali. And the murder’s row at welterweight is scary. Douglas Lima, MVP, Jason Jackson, Logan Storley, let alone the longest-reigning undefeated streak right now with champion Yaroslav Amosov. The one thing they all have in common, however, is they are all part of the deadliest fighters on the ground.
And if Coker wasn’t his choice, the million-dollar opportunity might just be too great to deny in the PFL for next season. Of course, until the meeting Tuesday for the UFC brass, it’s all speculative. Therefore; if dropping to 155 is getting tough, and the 170’ers are too strong for him, the bags will have to be packed.
