Former UFC star was baffled when UFC turned down offer to compete in Dana White's Contender Series: "I said I’d take that fight for $5k"

Former UFC star Kevin Lee wants to return to the UFC by all means necessary — even if he has to compete in Dana White's Contender Series. The much-lauded fight series, used by the UFC as an application process for new fighters, is almost always exclusive to up-and-comers. Never have we seen a former UFC fighter compete in it.

In a guest appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Kevin Lee opened up about his aspirations of fighting in MMA's premiere league again, saying:

“I really want to compete, I said I’d take that fight for $5k on Contender Series, and I’ll fight the best contender that they feel they got out there. They weren’t interested in that. Why? I don’t know. I didn’t have much conversation with the UFC besides [matchmaker] Sean Shelby, and he said he wasn’t really interested in doing something like that.

'The Motown Phenom' continued:

"When I talked to[manager] Ali [Abdelaziz], and he tells me anything about the UFC, he says they’re not interested at all."

Post-UFC, Lee was last seen in action at the Lights Out Championship, submitting Thiago Oliveira via a rear-naked choke back in September. Currently, he is signed under the Global Fight League (GFL), together with a slew of former UFC stars like Tyron Woodley, Anthony Pettis, and Junior Dos Santos.

---

After getting declined to fight in Dana White's contender series, Kevin Lee is still determined to prove worth

Despite being declined to fight in Dana White's Contender Series, Kevin Lee is still quite determined to prove his worth. The 32-year-old lightweight admitted that he is "confused" by the promotion's refusal to let him earn his spot again, despite his willingness to start from the minor leagues.

Lee said (via Ariel Helwani Show):

“Why that is? I couldn’t tell you. I’ve been part of some of the biggest fights in UFC history...I feel like I’m professional, I do what I need to do, and I don’t rub too many people the wrong way. Why necessarily they didn’t want me to go on Contender Series to show that I’m still one of the top 155 pounders out there, I don’t know, but I’ll make sure that this next time, there is no doubt.”

After going 2-3 in his last five fights, Kevin Lee was let go by Dana White and the UFC in 2023. He once fought for the interim UFC lightweight title, losing to Tony Ferguson in 2017. He has also faced — and lost to — former UFC champs Charles Oliveira and Rafael Dos Anjos.