Former interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee is no longer a part of the UFC roster.
MMA Fighting was the first to report that the promotion had released Lee (18-7) after 18 appearances inside the octagon. A source close to the situation also confirmed the news to Cageside Press.
After starting his UFC career out very strong going 9-2, which included fighting for the interim lightweight championship, “The Motown Phenom” has hit a rough patch in his career. Lee has lost five of his last seven, getting finished in three of them.
Lee faced Tony Ferguson at UFC 216 for the interim title, and after a very strong first two rounds, he would wind up submitted in the third. After his title fight loss, he would headline his second Fight Night against Edson Barboza, winning via doctor stoppage. Lee would also miss weight for the first time in the UFC. Two fights later, he would make the jump to welterweight but would lose to Rafael Dos Anjos.
Lee would get one of the most brutal knockouts in the history of the UFC when he would head kick Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244, receiving Performance of the Night. He would not win another fight in the promotion, however.
In 2020, the 29-year old fighter would lose to current lightweight champion Charles Oliveria and then most recently; he lost again, this time to Daniel Rodriguez. After his fight with Rodriguez, he was hit with a six-month suspension for using ADHD medication without disclosing it.
Lee would main event six UFC shows, and he received Performance of the Night three times.
