Former UFC fighter Kevin Lee announces retirement from mixed martial arts after a 12-year career. Lee fought top competition at lightweight, including Tony Ferguson and Charles Oliveira.
| Key Points |
|---|
| Former UFC interim title challenger Kevin Lee has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts. |
| Lee leaves the sport with an overall professional record of 19-8. |
| He fought top competition at lightweight, including Tony Ferguson and Charles Oliveira. |
Former UFC interim title challenger Kevin Lee has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts via social media. The 30-year-old fighter leaves the sport with an overall professional record of 19-8. Lee fought a gauntlet of top competition at lightweight, including Tony Ferguson, Charles Oliveira, Rafael Dos Anjos, Al Iaquinta, Edson Barboza, and Michael Chiesa. Originally from Detroit, Lee was known as the ‘Motown Phenom’ and rose to title contention with a 9-2 start in the UFC. However, he ultimately went 4-4 over his next eight fights.
Retirement Announcement
In an Instagram post, Lee stated, ‘To make a long story short, I’ve decided to retire from MMA and the UFC. It’s been 12 years, 12 long years of me being the best fighter that I can be and a lot of hard work and dedication for me to try to be the best fighter in the world. When I look back on it, I had a hell of a career.’
Notable Fights
One of Lee’s most memorable fights was against Tony Ferguson for the UFC’s interim lightweight championship in 2017. Although he came up short via third-round submission, the fight showcased his skills and determination. Lee was also an advocate for a 165-pound division, a proposal that has yet to take off in MMA. Towards the end of his career, he moved up to welterweight.
Last Appearance
Lee’s last appearance in the octagon resulted in a 55-second submission loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov at UFC Fight Night on July 1 in Las Vegas.
| Opponent | Result |
|---|---|
| Tony Ferguson | Loss (Submission) |
| Charles Oliveira | — |
| Rafael Dos Anjos | — |
| Al Iaquinta | — |
| Edson Barboza | — |
| Michael Chiesa | — |
Conclusion
Kevin Lee’s retirement marks the end of a successful career in the UFC. His dedication and hard work led him to compete against some of the best fighters in the lightweight division. Although he faced ups and downs, his contributions to the sport will always be remembered.
