Kevin Lee on Charles Oliveira defeat: 3 knee surgeries since and I’m still recovering 4 years later

Both the physical and psychological harm that MMA fighters endure during matches and throughout training prove that the sport is extremely violent. Due to the fact that Kevin Lee sustained a number of injuries throughout the course of his career, he was officially compelled to declare his retirement for the first time in July 2023.

Lee has fought many of the big names in the UFC’s lightweight and welterweight divisions and he has suffered damage in those fights. ‘The Motown Phenom’ revealed one fight that gave him devastating injuries. See what Lee was talking about below.

Kevin Lee reflects on Charles Oliviera loss

Kevin Lee revealed that he suffered brutal damage in his fight with Charles Oliveira, who would later become the undisputed lightweight champion of the UFC. “Charles destroyed both my knees in the first round of this fight and we kept fighting, 3 knee surgeries since and I’m still recovering 4 years later,” Lee tweeted on X about the damage he suffered during that fight.

Lee was the betting favorite in the fight against Oliveira and had also missed weight by 2.5 pounds. However, that did not matter to Oliveira, as he used his dynamic striking and BJJ prowess to neutralize Lee, who was submitted in the third round via guillotine choke, as the Americans shot in for a takedown.

Oliveira went on to face Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Islam Makhachev, and Beneil Dariush among whom he only lost to Makhachev. On the other hand, Lee has fought only three times since then and has gone 1-2 with both losses in the UFC and win in Eagle FC.

Oliveira is scheduled to fight Arman Tsarukyan, a surging contender in the UFC’s lightweight division, in a number one contender fight at UFC 300. The winner would be facing the pound-for-pound best Islam Makhachev, possibly in June.

Is Kevin Lee going to return to UFC?

Kevin Lee recently announced that he will be coming back to the UFC, six months after he announced that he was retired. “I’m coming out of retirement. I’ll fight MMA again. Idk when, where, or who yet but I’m dropping weight and getting into shape now”, Lee tweeted on X on February 1 of his plans to come back.

“I’m gonna get in the best shape of my life that’s my focus right now. It’s been 6 months since I retired and I miss being around the sport”, Lee further tweeted, explaining why he is looking to come back to the sport. It needs to be noted that Lee initially retired, citing burnout and the damage he suffered with MMA.

“Any fight decisions regarding me will be coming through @AliAbdelaziz00”, Lee tweeted on February 10 as he hinted that Dominance MMA owner Ali Abdelaziz would be announcing his next fight. Abdelaziz, the manager of many elite fighters, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, has not yet announced an opponent for Lee.

Interestingly, Lee was one of the names touted to defeat Nurmagomedov before his career fell off a cliff. Lee would later fight in Eagle FC, the promotion owned by Khabib Nurmagomedov. Moreover, he would also convert to Islam, the religion of Nurmagomedov, of which he is now an ardent follower.

Who do you think will fight Kevin Lee on his return? Leave your prediction below!