MIAMI – Kevin Lee doesn’t think his UFC release was solely based on his performance.
The former lightweight contender thinks his career with the Las Vegas-based promotion was cut short due to the company’s contract disputes with its heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou. Lee (18-7) and Ngannou share the same management company, Creative Artists Agency.
Lee was released from the UFC in November. According to his manager, Marquel Martin, “The Motown Phenom” had multiple fights left on his contract when the UFC decided to terminate it.
“To say I was surprised – no, not really,” Lee told MMA Junkie. “I know the back end and all the stuff that goes behind closed doors. They really showed me no respect toward the end.
“I feel like I ate a lot of the flak for guys like Francis Ngannou in his situation with them. They used me as kind of like a pawn and a scapegoat. And really, I hope other fighters kind of see that. That’s what they do to you.
“They didn’t like the way negotiations was handled with Francis, so they took it out on me to kind of show (CAA) a lesson. But I think in the end, we’re going to show that you can’t necessarily treat people like this, and there’s many other ways to make money and kind of outshine them. So we’re going to beat them one way or the other.”
Lee was 1-4 in his final five fights with the promotion before his release.
Although he was on skid, Lee still was considered a contender and one of the bigger names at lightweight and welterweight. In that 1-4 stint, Lee headlined three UFC events, scored a Knockout of the Night win, and fought hefty opposition that included current lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.
Lee thought the UFC changed toward him months before his release. He said he knew something was coming his way following the implementation of an interim heavyweight belt, which caused friction with Ngannou.
“Honestly, it happened months ago – just little stuff,” Lee said. “I was still recovering from a knee injury, but I’m still hearing these ramblings of what’s going on with Francis and them creating an interim title and all that.
“And then all of a sudden, ‘Oh, you can’t come do your physical therapy at this time.’ ‘Oh, you want credentials? We’re going to have to see.’ And I’m like, ‘OK, I’m starting to see what’s going on here.’ And then after my fight with (Daniel) Rodriguez, they just gave me the sh*t end of the stick. So I could see the writing on the wall.
“But honestly, it’s going to be a blessing in disguise. I’m starting a new division. I really hold no ill will toward them. I’m one of the most recognizable faces in all of MMA. I can go anywhere in the world and people know who I am. So I thank them for that, and we’re going to go on and I’m (going to) push on and be a world champion.”
After his UFC release, Lee signed with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC. He’s expected to debut against Diego Sanchez in the Eagle FC 46 main event March 11. The bout is set to be contested at super lightweight (165 pounds).
