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SCMP Martial Arts

Kevin Lee has revealed he has already received offers from multiple fight promotions after his shock release from the UFC this week.
A former UFC interim lightweight title challenger, “The Motown Phenom” was released from his contract on Tuesday, having received a six-month suspension in November for a positive drug test.
“P*****, a little bit embarrassed and it really doesn’t make much sense to me,” is how 29-year-old American Lee (18-7) summed it up to Ariel Helwani in an appearance on The MMA Hour on Wednesday.
Lee said he was informed of his release via email.


“It would have been nice to have a conversation and be able to fight out my contract,” he said. “[But] I can make a whole lot more money being a free agent.
“My only goal and objective right now is to show that they just made one of the worst mistakes that they did, and I’ll be a millionaire within a year so, so that’s pretty fun,” Lee added.
UFC: Chandler to match McGregor trash talk with ‘linguistic jiu jitsu’
Lee said he received three different offers on the day of his release, and he will now enter a period of negotiations with his suspension not up until February 28.
“I’ll tell you, there’s Triller that’s interested. I don’t know if I should mention them to be honest with you,” he said regarding the names of the interested organisations.
“I’m a prizefighter, so I’m gonna go to whoever pays me the most. The PFL have got their million-dollar tournament, but there’s a lot of ways to make millions and I can make a whole lot more than I ever did with the UFC.

“I had about eight main events with the UFC, so that’s a lot of millions put toward marketing, so I’m gonna leverage that. I want to thank the UFC for that – they made me famous in the game. Anybody that knows a little bit about MMA knows who I am.”
Lee claimed he made around US$1 million combined over seven years of fighting in the UFC, where he racked up 11 wins with seven defeats, and claimed he can earn the same amount over the next 12 months.
“I’m excited to get in there in a different arena too, a little bit, that should be fun,” Lee said. “I kinda need a restart anyway. I’m excited for the money. People respect money more than anything. They’re gonna disrespect you anyway, so you might as well get the money because they can’t say s*** about that.

“There’s a lot of big fights outside the UFC, there’s a lot of good competition too, so I’m gonna make sure we pick the right guys and we’re gonna have fun with this.”
Lee yo-yoed between the lightweight and welterweight divisions during his time in the UFC, missing weight twice at 155 pounds.
His final outing in the Octagon – a unanimous decision defeat by Daniel Rodriguez in August – took place at 170 pounds, and he plans to stay at that weight going forward.
“I’m still growing into my body at 170, that’s why the timing of this doesn’t really make sense to me,” Lee said. “I felt I was getting stronger in that last fight. Nobody comes back off two knee surgeries within 15 months. I’m still growing and I’m still getting stronger by the day.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC: Kevin Lee reveals offers from three organisations, plans to stay at 170 pounds after release

Kevin Lee walks off after knocking out Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244. Photo: Sarah Stier/USA TODAY Sports

The referee steps in after Kevin Lee knocks out Gregor Gillespie during the first round of their lightweight bout at UFC 244. Photo: AP

Kevin Lee throws a punch at Daniel Rodriguez in their welterweight bout during UFC Fight Night event at UFC Apex on August 28, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Kevin Lee and ONE Championship could be a match made in heaven after his shock UFC release

Kevin Lee walks off after knocking out Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden. Photo: Sarah Stier/USA TODAY Sports

The referee steps in after Kevin Lee knocks out Gregor Gillespie. Photo: AP

John Lineker walks off after knocking out Troy Worthen at ONE on TNT 3. Photo: ONE Championship

UFC: Michael Chandler confident he can match Conor McGregor’s trash talk with ‘linguistic jiu jitsu’

Michael Chandler looks on before his fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 262. Photo: Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports

Conor McGregor gestures at Dustin Poirier during the UFC 264 weigh-in. Photo: Reuters

UFC: Dana White says Conor McGregor is ‘chomping at the bit’ to fight again

Conor McGregor shares his Irish whiskey with UFC president Dana White. Photo: AFP

Conor McGregor smiles after defeating Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone during a UFC 246 welterweight mixed martial arts bout in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

UFC: Brad Riddell against Rafael Fiziev is shaping up as fight of the year contender

Brad Riddell of New Zealand punches Alex da Silva of Brazil in their lightweight bout during UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

The New Zealand slugger is on the cusp of a UFC top-10 lightweight ranking. Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC

Rafael Fiziev (right), along with Riddell, have both trained out of Thailand’s Tiger Muay Thai gym. Photo: Hip Panakom Santayanon

UFC: Conor McGregor provides update on return, admits ‘I must be patient’

Conor McGregor looks on ahead of fighting Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Photo: Gary A Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Conor McGregor holds his leg after suffering an injury against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Photo: Gary A Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Conor McGregor is carried out of the T-Mobile Arena on a stretcher after breaking his leg in the first round of his lightweight bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Photo: AFP

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


‘The Motown Phenom’ breaks his silence after shock exit from UFC, and says ‘I’m gonna go to whoever pays me the most’
‘There’s a lot of ways to make millions and I can make a whole lot more than I ever did with the UFC,’ adds Lee



‘There’s a lot of ways to make millions and I can make a whole lot more than I ever did with the UFC,’ former interim title challenger says.
