Ex-UFC star sharing cryptic beef with Khabib Nurmagomedov calls fellow fighters "cowards" over lawsuit settlement money: "They're fake tough guys"

An ex-UFC star, who's long shared a turbulent history with Khabib Nurmagomedov, has lambasted some of his fellow fighters over the UFC lawsuit settlement money. The veteran MMA fighter labeled them as "cowards" who fear the promotion.

The fighter is former interim UFC lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee, who exited the UFC in 2021. Lee then joined Nurmagomedov's Eagle FC, claiming he'd receive double his UFC pay. The American left after just one fight, and his feud with Nurmagomedov apparently persisted.

'The Motown Phenom' returned to the UFC for a single fight, exited again, and subsequently signed with the GFL ahead of its launch this year.

Lee has often suggested that he'd have beaten Nurmagomedov had they fought. The UFC Hall of Famer retired in 2020 and has since coached his friends and relatives.

On The Ariel Helwani Show, Lee recently asserted that fighters control the MMA industry but are inhibited by their fear. He deemed some fighters cowards who are afraid of career and financial repercussions, and therefore don't irk the world's premier MMA organization.

Helwani referenced the antitrust lawsuits against the UFC, insinuating that despite one lawsuit ending in a settlement last year, some fighters are reluctant to claim their shares.

Helwani indicated that a potential fighter union/association to lobby for fighter pay probably won't materialize in his lifetime because of fighters' supposed reluctance to oppose the UFC.

Lee responded:

"Yeah. They're cowards. I mean, this is after it's all said and done. I mean, the settlement is already done. You didn't have to do anything, bro. You just sat back. And now you're scared just to -- your name isn't even going to be put out there. So imagine when somebody actually does have to attach their name to it and say, 'Okay. I'm standing up for what's right.'

"They're f**king -- they're cowards, bro. Like, a lot of these guys, they're fake tough guys. You know, that ain't ever me. I'm not really afraid of whatever the consequences may be."

Watch Lee's assessment below:

Watch the podcast episode below (comments at 55:55):

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UFC's antitrust lawsuit developments through 2024, current situation

In March 2024, the UFC reached a $335 million settlement with the plaintiffs for one of two antitrust lawsuits against the organization. In July, Judge Richard Franklin Boulware II denied it preliminary approval, deeming the amount too low. UFC boss Dana White questioned the judge's fairness, citing their history as schoolmates.

In September, the UFC reached a $375 million settlement in the Le vs. Zuffa case, covering fighters from 2010-2017. Per ESPN in October, the judge granted it preliminary approval. Many plaintiffs requested funds at the earliest, citing medical and other expenses. Other UFC fighters from that timeframe could also claim sums from the settlement.

Some critics cite that the lawsuits' bedrock was the UFC's alleged monopolization of MMA, which purportedly helps control fighter pay and enforce highly restrictive contracts.

Alternatively, others have highlighted that the UFC consistently puts on high-level events and reliably provides lucrative job opportunities to many MMA fighters.