Former UFC interim title challenger Kevin Lee will finally begin his second stint with the promotion on July 1st.
News of Lee’s next fight booking was first reported by MMA Underground’s John Morgan.
Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) has booked his #UFC return, per sources, and will face Rinat Fakhretdinov on July 1 in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/OIMta1Md3a
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) May 18, 2023
Lee will face the surging Rinat Fakhretdinov in a welterweight bout at the UFC’s July 1st event. He signed a new, multi-fight deal with the promotion earlier this year in free agency.
Lee had competed under Eagle FC before the promotion’s U.S. events were moved overseas. He was released from the UFC in Nov. 2021 after a loss to Daniel Rodriguez earlier that year.
Kevin Lee vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov Booked For July 1st
MMA Junkie and MMA Fighting
Fakhretdinov made his UFC debut last June, earning a unanimous decision win over Andreas Michailidis. He went on to defeat former The Ultimate Fighter winner Bryan Battle in December.
Lee was initially rumored to face Tony Ferguson at UFC 290 before Ferguson was booked for UFC 291. He’s been searching for an opponent ever since signing his new deal.
Lee is looking to begin this second go-around in the UFC with a good start following losses in four of his last five UFC fights. His last UFC win came by head kick knockout over Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244.
The July 1st card in Las Vegas is headlined by a middleweight matchup between Sean Strickland and Abus Magomedov.
