Kevin Lee is set to make his PFL debut this Friday in a semifinal bout taking place in Wichita, Kansas. His scheduled opponent, Gadzhi Rabadanov, has expressed a mix of feelings about facing Lee.
Rabadanov secured his spot in the semifinals by quickly defeating Marc Diakiese in just 32 seconds back in April. He was originally preparing to face Jay Jay Wilson on June 20, but Lee was brought in as a replacement. Notably, Lee was added to the 155-pound grand prix later, bypassing earlier rounds, which makes him eligible to win the championship belt.
Speaking through a translator, Rabadanov commented on the situation: “Personally, he`s a great opponent. I am eager to fight him. However, I feel it`s somewhat unfair that he was placed directly into the semifinals. It might be unjust to the other competitors who have been part of the tournament, but despite this, I`m anticipating the fight.”
Regardless of what Rabadanov views as an unfair advantage given to Lee, he intends to approach this fight with the same focus as any other.
“For me, the focus isn`t on fairness concerning the other fighters; it`s solely on my next opponent,” Rabadanov explained. “I intend to overcome everyone, regardless of who is in front of me. My concentration is purely on myself, delivering my best performance, and eliminating my next opponent… To be completely honest, I believe Kevin Lee is a more favorable opponent for me due to his recognition, which will generate additional media interest. So, in terms of name recognition, I consider it an excellent match-up.”
Lee`s career has seen transitions between promotions. He first departed the UFC in 2021 after losing five of his last seven bouts, three by stoppage. He returned to the UFC after defeating Diego Sanchez in March 2022. However, Lee was submitted by Rinat Fakhretdinov in July 2023 and subsequently released again. Lee recently returned to the win column with a first-round submission victory against Thiago Oliveira in the third quarter of 2024.
“Perhaps he`s had some rest, found new motivation, or developed new goals,” Rabadanov speculated about Lee. “We`ll discover his preparedness for the fight once we`re inside the cage. I haven`t watched all of his most recent fights. I`ve only seen some highlights from his UFC appearances. I saw his last fight against Sanchez in Eagle FC. I haven`t seen his very latest one, but I`m aware his skills remain. The key factor is clearly his current level of motivation.”
Rabadanov has an impressive record of 14 finishes in his 25 MMA victories, with nine coming by knockout. He is aiming for another quick finish in this upcoming bout to secure his spot in the final round of the $500,000 lightweight tournament.
“Certainly, if the chance arises, I will aim to knock him out in the first round,” Rabadanov stated regarding his fight plan. “I strive for spectacular fights. And I believe my audience, my fans, already appreciate that. They enjoy my style, and I feel I need to deliver for them.”
This Russian fighter arrives at PFL 6 riding an impressive 11-fight winning streak, which includes five victories in PFL and five from his time under the Bellator banner. He trains alongside renowned lightweight fighters like Usman Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. Rabadanov consistently believes he is among the best lightweights globally, and upholding his team`s reputation at the elite level serves as a strong motivator for his performance.
Rabadanov reflected on his drive: “It`s difficult to say if it`s pressure or more like motivation. I feel a sense of responsibility. I`m responsible for showcasing myself, going in there, and representing our team and all our skills. So, if anything, I feel responsible for competing and demonstrating my utmost potential.”
Oliver Croft