Kevin Lee has officially signed with the PFL and is immediately stepping into a significant challenge.
The former UFC interim lightweight title contender faced challenges with inactivity and inconsistent results in recent years. However, he marks his return to major competition by entering the PFL lightweight tournament semi-finals next month against the 2024 champion, Gadzhi Rabadanov.
Replacing the injured former Bellator standout Jay-Jay Wilson, Lee finds himself in a prime position for a title shot. His immediate hurdle is Rabadanov, a formidable opponent and one of Khabib Nurmagomedov`s many lightweight proteges.
Kevin Lee Confirms PFL Debut Against Reigning Tournament Champion
According to a PFL press release, Kevin Lee has signed a multi-fight contract and will return to major MMA action surprisingly quickly. His first fight is scheduled for June 20 in Wichita, Kansas.
Announcing the news on his Instagram, Lee posted a photo with the caption: “It’s official, I’m stepping into the PFL lightweight tournament against the #1 ranked guy June 20th.”
The accomplished wrestler will headline the lightweight division event, facing the 2024 champion Rabadanov as a replacement for Jay-Jay Wilson. The winner of this bout will advance to face the victor of the other semi-final match between Brent Primus and Alfie Davis.
Lee`s last appearance was in September with Lights Out Promotions, where he secured a submission win over Thiago Oliveira in under two minutes. A planned Bare Knuckle MMA bout in November was canceled. He now faces a significant challenge in Rabadanov, widely considered one of the top lightweights globally.
Kevin Lee: Three Wins to PFL Dominance After Surprise Return
If Lee defeats Rabadanov, he would instantly become a strong contender to win the tournament. Rabadanov dominated Primus in last year`s final, while Davis is less experienced at the top tier, positioning the winner of Lee vs. Rabadanov favorably.
Winning the tournament wouldn`t just earn Lee a significant $500,000 prize on top of his fight pay; it would also place him in a strong position to challenge Usman Nurmagomedov for his world title in the PFL Champions Series. Usman, who had an exciting fight with Paul Hughes in January, has been seeking new opponents.
While fans have called for a rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov and Hughes, Usman appears more open to a new challenger. A victory for Lee, especially over Usman`s teammate, and a subsequent tournament win would create an immediate, compelling storyline and a clear, merit-based claim for a title shot.
