Kevin Lee had very different career plans before getting the call from the UFC

Kevin Lee has re-signed with the UFC less than two years after the former interim lightweight title challenger last appeared under the promotion's banner.

After a short stint fighting in Eagle FC, the promotion founded by Khabib Nurmagomedov, Lee decided to go in search of greener pastures. But during a recent interview with ESPN MMA, 'The Motown Phenom' disclosed that he was mere days away from signing with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Lee described the stark difference in career paths he would have had if he had signed with the PFL instead of the UFC.

He stated that his ultimate goal in targeting the SmartCage was a fight with Jake Paul, whereas signing with the UFC entails facing arguably the best MMA fighters in the world on a continuous basis:

"I was probably two or three days away from [signing with the PFL] when [the UFC] made that call... [If it was] two days later, we would be talking about some kind of no-name type of fight and then working my way to Jake Paul. Which, if that was the route I wanted to go down, I could've done it. Jake Paul's a much easier fight than... I mean you're talking about Colby Covington and Leon Edwards and [Jorge] Masvidal. The list can just keep going."

Watch the interview below:

Jake Paul signed a contract with the PFL earlier this year and will compete in a newly created 'Super Fight' division. The division will allow fighters to earn a share of the revenue from PPV events hosted by the PFL, something Paul has deemed "a step towards improving fighter pay."

Kevin Lee, who was defeated by Tony Ferguson in 2017 for the interim lightweight title, will be competing at welterweight upon his return to the UFC. It is unclear who he will face in his return bout.

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Kevin Lee comments on Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284

Kevin Lee recently broke down the UFC 284 main event between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski this weekend.

'The Motown Phenom' had plenty of praise for Volkanovski, and stated that the featherweight champion was a "live underdog." With that, he thinks Makhachev would be wise not to underestimate 'The Great'.

The bout sees the No.1 and No.2 pound-for-pound fighters in the sport do battle. Volkanovski is eager to become a two-division champion, while Makhachev has aspirations of becoming the P4P king of the UFC.

During the interview with Marc Raimondi, Kevin Lee said:

"It's a big fight... I think Volkanovski is a live dog. I think he can challenge Islam in ways that he hasn't been challenged before... If it gets out of the first two rounds, I can see Volkanovski rack up points."