Following a severe knockout loss and the resulting injuries sustained this past Friday, Kevin Lee appears to be contemplating his future in the sport of mixed martial arts.
In his PFL debut, Kevin Lee faced the highly-regarded Gadzhi Rabadanov in the main event of PFL 6, a bout that also served as a lightweight world tournament semifinal. Rabadanov, heavily favored by oddsmakers, landed significant punches on Lee for approximately half a round before securing a knockout victory over the former UFC competitor.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Lee shared his thoughts on the outcome, particularly raising concerns about his current ability to absorb damage during fights.
“I’m not a coward. At least I can say that I tried. I shot for the stars,” Lee posted on Twitter. “My legs just aren’t what they used to be. I can’t absorb shots anymore and honestly I don’t know if it will come back.”
Lee also disclosed that the loss resulted in a jaw injury that required his jaw to be surgically wired.
This loss continues a challenging period for Lee, who was once considered a fighter with immense potential and star power. Known as “Motown Phenom,” he has now lost four of his last six professional bouts, including stoppage defeats to notable opponents like Charles Oliveira and Rinat Fakhretdinov. His recent victories have been limited to a fight against Diego Sanchez under the Eagle FC banner and a win on the regional Lights Out Championship circuit.
Marcus Blakely