Ex-UFC Star Finds New Fighting Home after Failed DWCS Proposal

From Khabib's Eagle FC to Dana White and the UFC... Kevin Lee reveals who he's fighting for next.

Jason da Silva-Imagn Images

Kevin Lee is moving on from the UFC, at least, for now.

A big announcement is in store for the former title challenger, who's been gearing up for his MMA return ever since he retired and then un-retired following a loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov in July of last year.

We didn't know it at the time but Lee's second stint in the UFC would end there, with the 32-year-old confirming he was a free agent on the Anik & Florian Podcast a week ago.

Lee's Pitch To Fight On Contender Series

Details are scarce as to what happened, if anything at all, between Lee and the UFC to go their separate ways, but Lee did say he'd be willing to compete on Dana White's Contender Series - where prospects fight for UFC contracts - to show he can still compete at a high level despite the injuries and losses he has endured in recent years.

Ex-Title Challenger Eyes UFC Return with Contender Series Fight

But, the UFC matchmakers apparently weren't having it, as Lee revealed Sean Shelby declined his proposition. No matter, "The Motown Phenom" now has another banner to fight under, signing with a new promotion on Tuesday.

Former UFC star Kevin Lee. / Sarah Stier-Imagn Images

Ex-UFC Star Slated For Bareknuckle MMA Debut This Fall

According to MMA Fighting's Damon Martin, the gloves are staying off for the once-retired fighter as Lee has inked a deal with Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred FC, where he'll be fighting Bareknuckle MMA on Nov. 15, opponent TBD.

"I’m fighting Bareknuckle MMA November 15th," Lee confirmed on 'X' on Tuesday.

I’m fighting Bareknuckle MMA @GamebredFC November 15th

— Kevin Lee MTP (@MoTownPhenom) September 17, 2024

No fights have been announced so far for Gamebred's Bareknuckle MMA, but UFC star-turned-promoter Masvidal recently told Kevin Iole that this upcoming card on Nov. 15 will feature 14-15 UFC veterans, one just now confirmed to be Lee.

Who Will Kevin Lee Fight Against?

Given how big of a name Kevin Lee was several years ago, headlining events and fighting for a title, there's only a handful of former UFC fighters that would make financial sense for Lee's return fight.

Former UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez. / Raj Mehta-Imagn Images

It might not be the biggest elephant in the room but former UFC Lightweight Champion (and current free agent) Eddie Alvarez has alluded to an MMA comeback himself, citing on 'The MMA Hour' a few months ago that he'd like to fight again in November and is open to offers from promotions.

Alvarez, 40, has fought bare-knuckle twice before, brawling with fellow ex-UFC stars Chad Mendes and Mike Perry in BKFC, losing the latter match last December.

May 18, 2019; Rochester, NY, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (red gloves) fights Kevin Lee (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Blue Cross Arena. / Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images

A long shot? Maybe, however, a potential fight between Lee and Alvarez has been talked about for years - most notably in 2018, when the two were nearby in the UFC lightweight rankings.

It didn't happen then, but who knows? Lee vs. Alvarez in bareknuckle MMA wouldn't be the craziest thing to happen in this wacky world of combat sports.

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