Kevin Lee saw his chance and tried to be opportunistic.
When Gilbert Melendez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs two weeks ago, he attempted to get a rematch with Melendez’s opponent, Al Iaquinta.
“When the news came out that Gil popped, I was in strength and conditioning,” Lee told MMAFighting.com at an International Fight Week media day last week in Las Vegas. “As soon as I got out, I called my manager. Then my manager texted [matchmaker] Joe [Silva], but Iaquinta didn’t want it. He wanted to sit out a little bit.”
Iaquinta decided to potentially have surgery on a balky knee and not compete at UFC Fight Night: Mir vs. Duffee on Wednesday night in San Diego. So, Lee will keep his original opponent: James Moontasri.
“The MoTown Phenom” will have to wait if he’s ever going to get Iaquinta again. Iaquinta beat him by unanimous decision in February 2014 in a back-and-forth bout. It remains the only loss of Lee’s career. Some thought it should have been a draw after Lee dominated the second round. Lee doesn’t think Iaquinta should have been the winner, nor does he think Iaquinta was interested in doing it again this week.
“I don’t think he wants it, I’ll tell you that,” Lee said. “I wouldn’t say he’s ducking, but I say he don’t want it. Especially not like this.”
It’s safe to say both men have improved quite a bit since then. Lee (10-1) has won three straight after the loss and is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Michael Prazeres in February. The Detroit native is still only 22 years and one of the brightest prospects in the lightweight division.
Lee believes he has the potential to be a star, but doesn’t feel like he’s gotten even a fraction of the push of someone like Conor McGregor or Anthony Pettis by the UFC.
“I’ve always said stars aren’t made, they’re discovered,” Lee said. “The more I get the line shined on me, the brighter I’ll shine. It’s just getting myself out there, doing more media stuff, too. I don’t do a whole lot of media stuff…
“The UFC don’t plug me [usually]. I don’t think they like me very much. I think I’m the dark horse, and they don’t want to see me. It is what it is. But in order for the sport to move forward, I think you need guys like me, young black kids that come up from the hood, from the ghetto, from nothing. We’re the real athletes. That’s who MMA is gonna have to start attracting.”
However, the UFC did invite him to the International Fight Week media day, alongside stars like UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, Anthony Johnson, former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, CM Punk and Pettis. Lee was also at the recent fighter summit in Vegas for up-and-coming stars. So Lee is clearly someone the UFC promotional machine has its eyes on moving forward. That could get pushed into high gear if he beats Moontasri in impressive fashion.
“When I stepped back and I looked at it, James is a tae kwon do black belt,” said Lee, an accomplished wrestler. “It just gives me a chance to show I can strike with these guys, strike with the highest level of strikers. I always try to look at the positive side of things.
“If I wanted to take him down and lay on him for 15 minutes, that would be easy. But I don’t like easy stuff. I’m gonna go after the hard sh*t.”
That includes Iaquinta again en route to a title shot. At least, that’s what Lee’s vision is.
“I’ll beat this guy, I’ll beat one more and that’s my goal, then I’ll get him,” Lee said. “I’ll avenge that loss that shouldn’t be there.
“I want that one first, because he is a top-10 guy. You kind of kill two birds with one stone.”