Who should Kevin Lee fight in his UFC return?

Who should Kevin Lee fight in his UFC return?

Former UFC lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee announced his return to the organization on Feb. 6 after being released in 2021.

“I met with Dana White and Hunter Campbell, and I feel like I’m going back home,” Lee told ESPN. “I’m grateful for them welcoming me back and looking forward to the next chapter of my career.”

It was not just Lee’s fighting ability that earned him a reputation in the UFC. His brash personality was public knowledge but especially highlighted when he mentioned Michael Chiesa’s mom and threw punches during a press conference ahead of their bout in 2017. Lee would win the fight against Chiesa before challenging Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight strap in a losing effort.

Lee won only two of his next six fights post-Ferguson, which included bouts against Al Iaquinta, Rafael dos Anjos, and Charles Oliveira. Lee parted ways with the UFC in 2021, took a unanimous decision over Diego Sanchez on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle Fighting Championship last year, and now his reconciliation with the UFC has led to a new deal.

Who should Kevin Lee fight in his return?

The question now becomes who should welcome Lee back to the UFC. A fighter of his caliber, who is getting a second chance at the company, deserves a respectable opponent. With that said, a rematch with dos Anjos would be a good way for Lee to re-enter the Octagon. The former UFC lightweight champion is 3-3 since submitting Lee in 2017. At 38, dos Anjos has aged like fine wine, competing against the younger generation of fighters.

Both men looked sharp during their initial bout. The striking was crisp and Lee scored a knockdown just seconds into the opening horn. His grappling also helped him gain significant control time. The fight could have gone either way until dos Anjos secured an arm triangle and forced Lee to tap late in the fourth.

The UFC’s lightweight division provides good options including Drew Dober, Renato Moicano, and Dan Hooker. However, a rematch with dos Anjos not only provides a good narrative but allows them to choose between two weight classes. While both men were in the 155-pound title picture, they fought at welterweight in their first meeting. Lee has plenty of time left in his career. Dos Anjos will be on his way out sooner than later but could still give Lee a challenge.

The brash and hungry 30-year-old making his way back to the top flight, trying to even the score against the veteran who refuses to be a doormat for the new breed of talents.