Kevin Lee thinks his style will pose problems for the UFC welterweight division.
After a surprise release in 2021, Lee (19-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) has re-signed with the UFC, and the former interim lightweight title challenger plans on making welterweight his home.
Although Lee lost four of his past five UFC fights, he had his moments in those setbacks. Without a strenuous weight cut, Lee is confident he can make a title run at 170 pounds, and even likes his chances against reigning champion Leon Edwards.
“I can win that welterweight strap,” Lee told TMZ. “Leon Edwards got it right now. I can outwrestle that man and win that strap, so I’m chasing that title now.”
Lee was able to land more than one takedown in his losses to Tony Ferguson, Al Iaquinta, Rafael dos Anjos, Charles Oliveira, and Daniel Rodriguez. If he gets his cardio in order, Lee says he can test the likes of Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington in ways they haven’t been before.
“Hands down, I’m one of the best wrestlers in the world,” Lee said. “That really can’t even be disputed. Anybody that I’ve fought against, I’m taking them down, and I’m controlling them, and you don’t see that against a lot of the top welterweights.
“These guys are wrestlers, but how does Khamzat do when somebody is trying to take him down? How does Colby do when somebody’s trying to take him down? And I feel like I pose a lot of those questions, and my style matches up against a lot of those guys. I’m faster, I’m just as explosive, I’m just as strong, and I got the technique to back it up. I think it’s gonna solve a lot of cardio issues. It’s gonna be great for my career.”
