“The Motown Phenom” has a little regret about not moving up to 170lbs sooner.
After 17 months away from the octagon, Kevin Lee finally returns this weekend at UFC Vegas 35. While he is currently ranked No. 11 in the lightweight rankings, he is returning to the welterweight division. In his lone welterweight fight to date, Lee lost to former champion Rafael Dos Anjos via submission.
Lee would return to the lightweight division after the test run at welterweight failed. However, Lee has a little regret over not just sticking it out.
“A little bit, there was that,” Lee replied when asked at this week’s UFC Vegas 35 media day if he was being a little hard-headed and had regretted the decision. “I think now is the right time, and my last fight kind of showed me that too. Now is the right time, and all the stuff that I’ve been through this past year; actually weight training for the first time, and putting weight on my body and sticking to it, it seems like it’s the right time.”
Lee has a big test welcoming him back to the division. Daniel Rodriguez burst onto the scene last year, going 3-1, and has fought five times while Lee has been out.
At first, “The Motown Phenom” didn’t know who his opponent was, but as the fight drew closer, he quickly realized who Rodriguez was and saw the skill set he possesses.
“He’s built up a street reputation, and that gave me extra motivation to go out there and get this done and really, really take him serious,” Lee said. “He’s solid. He’s a good Mexican southpaw boxer, and that style has given me trouble in the past, so it’s going to answer a lot of questions for me.”
Watch the rest of Kevin Lee’s UFC Vegas 35 media day interview above. The event takes place this Saturday, August 28 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV.
