Kevin Lee is set to make his PFL debut this Friday in a semifinal bout in Wichita, Kansas. His opponent, Gadzhi Rabadanov, has mixed feelings about the upcoming fight and Lee`s entry into the tournament.
Rabadanov quickly defeated Marc Diakiese in just 32 seconds in his quarterfinal match in April. He was preparing to face Jay Jay Wilson when Lee stepped in as a replacement. Lee, who entered the grand prix later, is eligible to win the championship belt, a situation Rabadanov finds somewhat questionable compared to other fighters who competed earlier.
Speaking through a translator, Rabadanov commented, “For me, personally, he’s a great opponent. I would like to fight him. It’s just I think maybe it’s a little bit unfair that he jumped in straight into semifinals. It might be just unfair to other guys who were in the tournament, but overall I’m looking forward to this fight.”
Despite his view on the perceived unfairness of Lee`s direct entry, Rabadanov is approaching the fight with his usual focus.
“For me, it’s not about what’s fair with the other guys, for me it’s about my next opponent,” Rabadanov stated. “And I’m gonna take them all out, regardless who’s in front of me. I just focus on myself, on my best performance, and just taking out my next opponent.” He also noted a benefit to facing Lee: “To be open about it, to be honest, I think Kevin Lee is a better matchup for me because of his name, because I’m going to get the extra media attention for that. So name-wise, I think it’s a great matchup for me.”
Lee`s recent career has seen shifts. He first departed the UFC in 2021 after a series of losses. He returned after defeating Diego Sanchez in Eagle FC in March 2022 but was released again by the UFC following a 2023 loss. He recently returned to winning ways with a first-round submission victory in PFL in the third quarter of 2024.
Rabadanov speculated on Lee’s current condition: “Maybe he got rest, maybe he got new motivation, maybe new aspirations. We’re gonna see how he’s prepared for the fight when we’re gonna be in the cage.” He admitted he hasn`t seen all of Lee`s latest bouts but acknowledged his skills remain. “I’ve just watched some highlights of his UFC performance. I’ve seen his last fight with Sanchez in Eagle FC. I haven’t seen the latest one, but I know the skills are still there. It’s the question of his motivation, obviously, where he stands right now.”
Rabadanov boasts an impressive finishing rate with 14 stoppages in his 25 wins, including nine knockouts. He aims for another quick finish to secure his spot in the $500,000 lightweight tournament final.
He explicitly stated his goal: “Definitely, given the opportunity. I will try to knock him out in the first round. I’m looking for spectacular fights. And I think my audience, my fans, already understand that. They like my style and I need to deliver to them.”
The Russian fighter enters PFL 6 on an 11-fight winning streak, spanning five fights in PFL and five under the Bellator banner. He trains alongside renowned lightweights like Usman Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. Rabadanov consistently believes he is “one of the best lightweights out there,” driven by the desire to uphold his team`s reputation at the division`s pinnacle.
He sees this connection as a motivator rather than pressure. “It’s hard to tell whether it’s pressure or rather motivation,” Rabadanov said. “I feel responsibility. I’m responsible to showcase myself, to go there, to represent our team, all the skills. So if anything, I feel responsible for going out there and showing my best.”
