“After he beat Masvidal, I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s me,’” Kevin Lee was inspired by Kamaru Usman to compete at welterweight
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Kevin Lee on Kamaru Usman
Kevin Lee is going to return at UFC 264 at the welterweight to take on the undefeated Sean Brady on July 10, Lee has had a successful career at the lightweight but he plans on competing at the welterweight for the foreseeable future.
Lee is 18-6 on his professional record and has never been the one to shy away from a challenge, he is also no stranger to bouncing a highly-touted prospect out of the ranks, his knockout victory over Gregor Gillispie still remains one of the best knockouts of his career.
According to Lee, it was the champion Kamaru Usman who inspired him to move up to the welterweight, in an interview with “The Schmo”, he said, “At the Kamaru Usman fight. After he beat Masvidal the way that he beat him, I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s me. I’m big too.’”
He continued, “This is the first time that I’ve ever lifted, really ever since college, so it’s been over 10 years since I’ve really lifted weights. But to come back off the knee surgeries, I’ve been doing a lot of weight lifting, and I’m moving around middleweights and stuff, so I’m ready.”
“I’ve fought legends of the sport already,” Kevin Lee is feeling good about this transition
Lee is planning on entering the welterweight rankings with a victory over Brady, he said, “I’m already at the top of the division. Me and Kamaru have locked eyes before, and I feel like that’s a match that needs to be made eventually. But for this one, I’m taking Sean Brady’s spot. He’s top 15, but he hasn’t fought anybody yet. He’s still young in his career.”
“I mean, we’re the same age, but I’ve kind of done everything that he’s done twice almost. His biggest win is over Jake Matthews; I beat him five years ago. It took me a round to do it, it took him three rounds, so I’m here to take his spot,” Lee said.
Lee is feeling pretty good about his decision and thinks he can get the job done against Brady, “I’ve fought legends of the sport already and guys that are gonna be future legends, so I’m gonna take all of that. Even if it was at lightweight, I feel like I’m showing up better at welterweight, and I’m going to show up healthier without killing myself and without that weight cut. I’m going to use all my past experience, and I think that’s gonna be the difference between me and Sean.”
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Suryansh Thakur
(1600 Articles Published)