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After Making Huge Career Move, Kevin Lee Claims Eagle FC “Fell Apart”

Published 02/09/2023, 6:59 AM EST

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Kevin Lee is blazing a trail back to the UFC after leaving the promotion to join Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s Eagle Fighting Championship in December 2021. Despite being under a 4-fight contract with the Russian MMA organization, Lee has decided to cut ties and return to the UFC, eager to be back in Dana White‘s familiar surroundings.

The downfall of the Eagle FC played a huge role in Lee’s decision, as he aims to soar to new heights in his career. He firmly believes that the UFC is the cream of the crop and the best in the business, and the only place where he can truly reach his full potential. Hence, with his game face on and his eyes fixed firmly on the prize, ‘The Motown Phenom’ is ready to step up to the plate and give it his all.

Kevin Lee escapes the falling Eagle FC

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During his brief stint with the Eagle Fighting Championship, Kevin Lee only had one fight, which he won with flying colors. But he then realized that he couldn’t reach new heights and build a legacy within that organization. Staying put with the Eagle FC just wasn’t cutting it for ‘The Motown Phenom’ and he realized that in order to really make a name for himself, he needed to jump ship and head back to the big leagues of the UFC.

Lee said in his interview with ESPN MMA, “I’ve been honestly looking to fight since last October. … It’s been a long process of these negotiations with different organizations. And since Eagle[FC] kind of fell apart, that’s kind of, my career has been suspended for like the 6 months or so.”

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He further added, “They’re talking about I might have to do this 6 months of USADA[test]. But then again, I don’t know, because, I was in the middle of a contract so, that part’s gonna be have to worked out with legal… Hopefully it’s April. I’m pushing for an April date.”

However, the 30-year-old revealed how he would’ve instead become a PFL fighter, but felt like he had some unfinished business with the UFC.

Did he almost sign with the PFL?

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During the same interview, Kevin Lee also talked about how he almost had a deal in the bag with the PFL, but he felt like he’s yet to cement his legacy in the UFC. He revealed, “I was probably like two or three days away from when they made that call… Two days later, I would have signed it and we would be talking about having some, you know, kind of ‘no-name’ kind of fight. And then working my way to a Jake Paul.”

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He continued by saying that he would have had one huge regret if he had signed a contract with the PFL. “Even if I would have won a PFL championship, in the back of my mind I still be thinking, ‘I didn’t get the UFC championship’, you know. I didn’t go out on my own terms in the UFC. And that was something that appealed to me a little bit more,” said Lee.

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Now, he’s ready to hit the ground running in his second run with the UFC, determined to prove himself as one of the top fighters in the sport. With his eye on the prize, there’s no telling what he can accomplish.

Watch this story: Wild Theories on Khabib’s Retirement Involving Dana White; Kevin Lee Says Return to UFC Hurts Leverage; Victoria Lee’s Family Gym ‘Permanently Closed’

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Written by:

Mayur Soni

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Mayur Soni is a UFC Writer at EssentiallySports. His interest in the UFC heightened when he first saw his favorite fighter Conor McGregor knockout Jose Aldo in mere 13 seconds, in 2015. He thus got hooked on the sport.
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Edited by:

Rohini Kottu