Kevin Lee feels he is not being mentioned in the same conversation as some of the best lightweights in the world.
“The Motown Phenom” ended a two-fight losing skid with an emphatic head kick knockout of the previously undefeated Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244 back in November.
It reminded everyone just how much potential Lee has and certainly put the 27-year-old back in the lightweight mix following a failed welterweight debut last year.
He is now set to take on another killer in Charles Oliveira — currently on a six-fight winning streak — in the main event of UFC Brasilia on March 14.
THIS MATCHUP 🔥
🇧🇷 @CharlesDoBronxs welcomes @MoTownPhenom to the main event of #UFCBrasilia!
➡️ https://t.co/Ol82V1ZmWE pic.twitter.com/oteJHLzyB8
— UFC (@ufc) January 14, 2020
However, Lee still doesn’t feel he is getting the respect he deserves — which is why he is planning on making yet another statement when he faces Oliveira.
“A little bit but no,” Lee told MMA Junkie when asked if he felt the respect for him has increased since his knockout of Gillespie. “To be honest, not yet. That’s why I got to do this one again to really remind people. I still feel like I’m exed out of a lot of conversations, especially around the lightweight title.
“Like Khabib [Nurmagomedov] and Tony [Ferguson] are getting ready to fight for it, but that’s my title. I got to go out there and keep proving it to people. I’m going to come out from the back end and they can’t stop me. I’m getting a little bit more respect but not really, not yet.”
A win against Oliveira would likely set Lee up for a highly-anticipated fight with Islam Makhachev.
The goal, however, is the lightweight title and Lee has a vested interest in the upcoming fight between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson at UFC 249 on April 18. He even plans on being in attendance in Brooklyn, New York.
“I wanted to fight on the undercard of that one,” Lee added. “But I’ll still be in attendance. I’m still going to watch that fight. It’s going to be a damn good one.
“… I’ll ask a few questions myself and get some answers — that’s for sure.”