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Going back down to lightweight, Kevin Lee has explained why he feels the 155-pound division is picking up more “momentum” as of late.
Former interim UFC lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee has explained why he has moved back down to 155-pounds after just one fight at welterweight.
Lee (17-5) moved up to 170-pounds after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Al Iaquinta in December of last year. The 27-year-old took on Rafael Dos Anjos in his welterweight debut, losing by fourth round submission.
“The Motown Phenom” spoke to MMA Junkie about the factors that made him drop back to lightweight so soon after his 170-pound debut.
“Lightweight was starting to get a lot more momentum going, especially after the way Khabib (Nurmagomedov) beat Dustin (Poirier) the way that he did, and there’s so many moving parts. Welterweight has kind of gotten a little stagnant. They’re doing this new title now that Masvidal and Diaz are fighting for. It’s kind of a little boys title.”
A huge advocate for a new 165-pound weight class, Lee can’t understand why the UFC would introduce a one-off ‘BMF’ title for Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz’s fight at UFC 244 next month.
“They should have made a 165-pound title if they’re going to make another one,” Lee said. “I mean, I hate to beat a dead horse like that, but because there was so little movement up there (welterweight), and my body naturally just wanted to go back down to 155, so I feel like this is the right move to do.”
After his most recent loss to ‘RDA’, Lee made the decision to move to Tristar Gym to train under head coach Firad Zahabi, he feels Zahabi’s work is already benefitting him.
“I’m really here to work with Firas (Zahabi), and I feel like his brain is already getting into me, and I’m feeling better as the days go.”