Although Kevin Lee recently signed with the PFL, his unresolved issues with the GFL promotion are reportedly leading to legal action.
The former interim UFC title challenger was set to be a key part of GFL`s anticipated launch this year. The startup league had announced its first events for May 24 and 25, featuring a roster of notable MMA fighters including Tony Ferguson, Anthony Pettis, Holly Holm, Urijah Faber, Benson Henderson, Paige VanZant, Sage Northcutt, and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, among others.
While Lee wasn`t scheduled to compete on those specific initial dates, his signing with GFL was announced in December. Six months later, he is now with the PFL and preparing for a bout against Gadzhi Rabadanov at PFL 5 on June 20.
Speaking on SiriusXM, Lee claimed that GFL exploited fighters by making unfulfilled financial promises. He stated that he and his team are pursuing legal action against the promotion.
Lee recounted his experience: “Over the past year or so, we were engaged in significant discussions with GFL. They presented themselves as the forthcoming major promotion, set to be the next big entity, and I strongly supported them. The conversations were promising, but lacked concrete follow-through.”
He elaborated on the lawsuit: “I can`t discuss the situation in too much detail as we are now pursuing legal action. I will be suing them for defamation and extortion. I believe they exploited fighters like myself, using our names to establish themselves as a significant force in MMA promotion, but ultimately delivered nothing.”
GFL founder Darren Owen has attributed the event cancellations to a primary investor`s failure to meet funding commitments, maintaining that he still plans to launch the promotion in the future. However, Alan Belcher, another fighter who signed with GFL, reportedly described the league as a “scam.”
Lee feels more stable in his current position as he prepares to face Rabadanov, who holds an 11-fight winning streak and hasn`t lost since 2020. Lee is stepping in as a replacement for an injured Jay Jay Wilson, and defeating the current PFL lightweight champion could potentially propel him directly into the finals with just one victory.
Asked if he views this upcoming fight as an opportunity to make a statement, Lee confirmed: “That’s precisely the case, and it`s my sole focus. For the past six or seven months, my entire concentration has been on returning to compete against elite lightweights, and Rabadanov fits that description.”
He added: “Some people consider the UFC the ultimate standard, believing its fighters are the best, but this opponent is a truly top-tier competitor. By defeating him on June 20, I intend to demonstrate that I remain among the world`s best lightweights. I sense many have discounted me, either forgetting or dismissing me. Whatever they think, it`s irrelevant to me. I see the doubt, and I hope it persists. I hope they continue to write me off because I will prove them wrong decisively on June 20 by dominating a lightweight who has repeatedly proven himself. When I finish him in the manner I`m capable of, I will show I`m still a top lightweight, just as I was years ago.”
