Veteran mixed martial artist Kevin Lee is stepping back into a main event slot.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) announced on Wednesday the signing of Kevin Lee (20-8). Lee is set to compete in the headliner of PFL 5 on June 20, taking on current PFL lightweight champion Gadzhi Rabadanov (25-4-1). Lee enters the bout as a replacement for the injured Jay Jay Wilson.
This upcoming fight will mark Lee`s debut with the PFL. His signing follows a brief period where he was affiliated with GFL after joining them in December. However, GFL`s planned launch events for May 24 and 25 were canceled, seemingly allowing Lee to explore opportunities with other organizations.
Lee, 32, is a former interim lightweight title challenger from his time in the UFC. He compiled an 11-8 record in the promotion before departing after a series of inconsistent results. He aims to build on recent success, having secured a first-round submission victory over Thiago Oliveira on the regional circuit last September at a Lights Out Championship event.
His opponent, the 31-year-old Rabadanov, is the reigning PFL lightweight champion. He earned the title by winning the league`s 2024 tournament after defeating Brent Primus in the final. Rabadanov is currently riding an impressive 11-fight winning streak that began in 2020.
The PFL 5 card will also feature other notable lightweight bouts, including a matchup between Brent Primus and Alfie Davis. Davis is coming off a first-round victory against Clay Collard in his last outing.
PFL 5 is scheduled to take place on June 20 at the INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
Percy Harlow