Former UFC interim lightweight title contender Kevin Lee aims to make a successful comeback at welterweight in his fight against Rinat Fakhretdinov at UFC Vegas 76, expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of fans at the APEX venue.
Kevin Lee, a former UFC interim lightweight title contender, is excited to display his prowess in the welterweight division as he undertakes his return to the octagon. In addressing reporters at a media event for his upcoming UFC Vegas 76 fight against Rinat Fakhretdinov, Lee shared, “I feel like it’s been about three years since I’ve really performed at the right level and really had the right fight. So for three years, it’s been me rebuilding myself, rebuilding my strength, everything, to get back to that level.”
He revealed his objective to end Fakhredinov’s 16-fight winning streak. However, Lee did express his objections to the UFC’s selected venue, the UFC APEX. He said, “I’m not gonna lie…I wish it was in front of more fans. I don’t know how many people are gonna be at APEX, but it’s kind of stupid. I don’t know what we’re doing. You know what I mean? The pandemic over – I don’t know if people got the message or, you know, if they sent out the telegram, but the pandemic is over. I don’t know what we’re still doing here.”
UFC’s choice to continue hosting events at the APEX venue has been partly due to the significant increase in its profits, boosted by cost savings from holding events at a venue ready for broadcast. UFC President Dana White praised the APEX for its role in the promotion’s growing trend as it outpaced other sports leagues in rebooting live events. In response, Lee stated, “I get that there’s money to be had, but it’s kind of stupid. It’s a different energy when it’s thousands and thousands of people screaming. It’s a different level of feeling. It’s why when I want the Charles Oliveira fight again, it’s a different feeling.”
Lee, who is set to head the preliminary section of the ESPN-televised event on Saturday night, had fallen short in a match against Oliveira in March 2020, just as the pandemic started shutting down the globe. In his sole experience at the APEX, he was beaten by Daniel Rodriguez in a contest that eventually led to his departure from UFC in November 2021. Despite his previous setbacks, Lee, who is known as “The Motown Phenom,” is hopeful of more favorable results this time around. His last words during the press conference were, “I wish [a big audience] was happening, but I’m gonna make do with what I do, and I’m going go out there on Saturday in front of the 200, 300 rich-ass motherf****** that wanna see me bleed, and we gonna get it in.”