What Happened Between Kevin Lee and Khabib Nurmagomedov? Does the Former Eagle FC Fighter Have a Good Relation With the UFC Legend?

In the action-packed world of mixed martial arts, feuds and rivalries often add an electrifying edge to the sport. One such captivating tale revolves around the intense beef between two formidable fighters, Kevin Lee and Khabib Nurmagomedov. These two talented athletes shared the same platform in the UFC, showcasing their incredible skills and building a reputation as fierce competitors.

In a surprising turn of events, ‘The Motown Phenom’ ventured into Khabib’s own promotion, testing the waters in the Russian superstar’s territory. While the fans anticipated an epic showdown of talents, not everything seemed good between the two, hinting at lingering tensions beneath the surface.

Kevin Lee reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov’s weakness

Kevin Lee once discussed the perceived weaknesses in Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s game. Lee had previously claimed that he knew how to defeat Nurmagomedov, and now he has shed some light on his thoughts. During an interview with The Sports Network, Lee explained that he believed Nurmagomedov had certain vulnerabilities in his game.

“The holes in the game thing, it kind of got blown out of proportion, it’s hilarious to me… it’s just funny when people do the little memes and stuff.”, said Lee.

He further added, “I thought that his body was open, I thought that he stood very square. I thought that, you know, that pressure forward style kind of take it on the chin doesn’t lend well to shots to the body. And it would have opened up eventually for a head kick or some type of kicks to the head.”

Despite previously voicing confidence in his capacity to defeat Nurmagomedov, Lee admitted that the discussion had become futile due to Nurmagomedov’s retirement from MMA. Lee declared his intention to shift his focus away from the past, emphasizing that there was no purpose in fixating on a fight that ultimately eluded them.

Kevin Lee Believes Khabib May Hold A ‘Grudge’ Against Him; ‘We Need To Have A Conversation’

Kevin Lee holds the belief that there may be a lingering grudge from Khabib towards him, prompting the need for a conversation to address any unresolved issues. Lee expressed the importance of open communication during an interview with James Lynch by stating, “Me and Khabib need to talk. We need to have a conversation. We really need to sit down as men and talk.”

He further added, “I do feel like he’s still- He maybe hold a grudge or maybe he’s got something going on against me… I think he’s coming off the big win with Islam[against Charles Oliveira]. That was a huge win and I’m never one to make anything about me. So, I’m giving them the time and space they need to kind of celebrate it.”

Kevin Lee Is ‘Going to Shed Some Blood’ for Khabib Nurmagmedov

Lee had recognized Nurmagomedov’s capabilities long before he became a champion, which fueled his desire to fight him. But while accompanying him for a while in Eagle FC and owing to their history back in the UFC, he expressed his interest in taking on ‘The Eagle’.

During his appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani back in 2021, ‘The Motown Phenom’ said, “We didn’t have to go into, you know, ‘Oh I wanted to fight you and then I’ll be cool,’ We didn’t even have to speak on all that you know. You could just kind of tell off a man’s eyes sometimes with the messages behind it. And I’m going to let the action speak for [itself].You know I’m going to go out there and I’m gonna shed some blood for him.”

Read more: “About to Get Sent Back to Eagle FC”: Rebellious Kevin Lee’s Lash Out at the UFC and Dana White Doesn’t Go Down Well as Fans Caution 30 Y.O After Bold Move

Despite their history in the UFC, Lee clarified that there is no tension between him and Nurmagomedov.

Kevin Lee Questions Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Legacy

Kevin Lee never got the chance to face Khabib Nurmagomedov in the Octagon. Interestingly, Lee later signed with Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion and left the promotion soon after. However, just last year, Lee was still questioning the legacy of Khabib and expressing his frustrations about the fight never happening.

During an interview on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Lee shared his disappointment saying, “That’s just a guy I want to test myself against. And, you know, yeah, he’s a great champion and all that, but people even now are starting to see that he didn’t really have the challenges that he should’ve had to really be a all-time great, you know. He never really fought a great wrestler, and that was something I was seeing the whole time coming up.”

Despite the growing sentiment that Khabib is one of the greatest fighters of all time, Lee remained unconvinced and believed that people were starting to see the truth about Khabib’s challenges.

Although the fight with Khabib never materialized, Lee continued to express his desire to compete against him if Khabib ever decided to make a comeback. Lee couldn’t help but wonder how his career would have unfolded if he had the opportunity to face Khabib.

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