Kevin Lee is expected to sign with the PFL and is excited about it.
Lee was released from the UFC following a decision loss to Daniel Rodriguez in August 2021. Following the release, he signed with Eagle FC and beat Diego Sanchez in his debut. Yet, with Eagle FC not returning to the United States, it has allowed Lee to be a free agent which is exciting for him and he is deep in talks with the PFL which he knows is a big opportunity.
Kevin Lee also recently called out Jake Paul since his announcement in the PFL.
Kevin Lee On The PFL
“That’s been floated out there a few times, and I have thought about it, but I’m not putting energy toward it, to be honest with you,” Lee told ESPN. “I feel like there’s so many opportunities in this sport and there’s a big opportunity now with PFL. You know, they just signed Jake Paul. They’re making a lot of waves outside of the fighting realm, outside of the bubble the UFC has created.”
“There’s a lot of opportunity outside of it and I’m one of the most experienced guys. You can’t look at anybody who’s unsigned from the UFC that has my record, has fought the people that I’ve fought, and has my age and my upside to me, either. So I would almost be hurting my leverage if I was just to straight go back with the UFC right now.”
Although Kevin Lee is a big name and likely could’ve gotten some interest with the UFC or Bellator, he says the PFL’s $1 million prize for the tournament winner was a lot more enticing than re-signing with the UFC.
“It’s something that I’m kind of interested in, but it would have to be the right offer. It’d have to be the right fight. It’d have to be something other than just to say I’m a UFC fighter,” Lee said of a potential UFC return. “I’ve been there and done that. That doesn’t do that much for me. A million dollars sounds a whole lot better – especially at my age now. I’ve got a few more years left of me really pursuing this thing that I need to give it my full and undivided attention.”
Kevin Lee is currently 19-7 as a pro and went 11-7 in the UFC with notable wins over Gregor Gillespie, Edson Barboza, Michael Chiesa, and Francisco Trinaldo among others.
