[autotag]Kevin Lee[/autotag] used to talk about wanting to fight [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag]. Now he’s working for him.
Just one month after getting released by the UFC, Lee (18-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) has signed a multi-fight deal with Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to MMA Junkie. Ariel Helwani was first to report the news.
Promotion officials are expected to announce the signing Wednesday at a news conference in Miami. Lee’s debut is set for March 11 against an opponent to be determined, and it will take place at 165 pounds.
Lee, 29, was let go by the UFC after losing four of his past five fights. His lone win in that stretch was a highlight-reel knockout of formerly unbeaten Gregor Gillespie in November 2019.
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Lee, a former UFC interim lightweight title challenger, holds notable wins over Gillespie, Michael Chiesa and Edson Barboza, but he struggled in the octagon after losing to Tony Ferguson for the interim belt in October 2017. Lee’s final two UFC setbacks came to current UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and most recently rising contender Daniel Rodriguez in August.
Miami will play host to Eagle FC 44 on Jan. 28, which is headlined by a heavyweight bout between Tyrone Spong and Sergei Kharitonov. UFC Hall of Famer Rashad Evans will come out of retirement to return to fighting. Former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao also will make his return on that card when he takes on fellow UFC alum Horacio Gutierrez.
Eagle FC plans on holding as many as 10 events in the U.S. in 2022.
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