BREAKING: Kevin Lee returns to the UFC, signs exclusive deal

Kevin Lee is reportedly returning to the UFC after having tried his luck at other promotions. The former interim title challenger recently claimed to have signed an exclusive deal with the UFC in a statement to ESPN. 'The MoTown Phenom' said:

"I met with [president] Dana White and [chief business officer] Hunter Campbell, and I feel like I'm going back home. I'm grateful for them welcoming me back and looking forward to the next chapter of my career."

While Kevin Lee doesn't have a fight booked yet, he expects to return in spring this year.

Lee was unceremoniously released from the UFC in December 2021 and expressed his resentment towards the company. Lee claimed that his release was a backlash for the UFC's contract dispute with Francis Ngannou, who was then managed by the same agency as 'The MoTown Phenom'.

After hinting at free agency for a short while, Lee signed with Khabib Nurmagomedov's Eagle FC where he won a unanimous decision in a lone outing against fellow UFC veteran Diego Sanchez.

The former interim title challenger had previously hinted at a PFL signing before returning to the UFC. Lee's UFC return comes shortly after he changed management, signing with Ali Abdelaziz's Dominance MMA. The 30-year-old recently posted pictures with the UFC brass, hinting at new beginnings with the promotion.

Kevin Lee was scared of losing leverage with other promotions if he returned to the UFC

Kevin Lee's previous management agency CAA completely disbanded their MMA division last year as they became primarily Hollywood focused. While Lee initially stuck with his manager Marquel Martin, 'The MoTown Phenom' felt he could grow more in an MMA-focused space.

Lee claims to have taken Martin's blessings before signing with Ali Abdelaziz's Dominance MMA, which opened up a plethora of opportunities. While a potential UFC return was on the cards, 'The MoTown Phenom' was afraid of losing leverage with other promotions, particularly the PF, who recently signed Jake Paul. The 30-year-old told ESPN:

"That’s been floated out there a few times, and I have thought about it, but I’m not putting energy toward it, to be honest with you. I feel like there’s so many opportunities in this sport and there’s a big opportunity now with PFL. You know, they just signed Jake Paul. They’re making a lot of waves outside of the fighting realm, outside of the bubble the UFC has created."

Catch Kevin Lee's interview below: