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“The Motown Phenom” won’t have an easy first fight back at 155 pounds.
After his welterweight debut didn’t go his way, Kevin Lee is headed back down to 155 pounds.
A lightweight bout between Lee and Gregor Gillespie is targeted for UFC 244 on Nov. 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York, MMA Junkie reported Monday night. UFC officials have yet to announce the pairing.
In light of issues making the lightweight limit, Lee decided after a loss to Al Iaquinta late last year to move up to 170 pounds. In his debut in the division, he met former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos, but lost by submission. “The Motown Phenom’s” last win came in April 2018 against Edson Barboza.
Gillespie, an undefeated top prospect in the weight class, has been on a tear ever since joining the UFC in 2016. He is 6-0 in the Octagon and most recently defeated Yancy Medeiros by TKO in January.
UFC 244 is expected to be headlined by a welterweight bout between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Also on the card, Kelvin Gastelum welcomes ex-welterweight title challenger Darren Till to the middleweight division.