Veteran fighter Kevin Lee is set for a return to the main event stage.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) announced on Wednesday that Lee (20-8) has officially signed with the organization. He is scheduled to face Gadzhi Rabadanov (25-4-1) in the main event of PFL 5 on June 20. Lee takes this spot, stepping in for the injured Jay Jay Wilson.
This upcoming bout will be Lee`s debut in the PFL. Earlier reports in December indicated he had signed with GFL, but following the cancellation of GFL`s planned launch events on May 24 and 25, Lee was reportedly released from his commitment, allowing him to join the PFL.
Lee, now 32 years old, is a former interim lightweight title contender in the UFC. He later departed the promotion after a period of inconsistent performances, ending his UFC tenure with a record of 11-8. He aims to build upon a recent victory from September, where he secured a first-round submission win over Thiago Oliveira at a regional Lights Out Championship event.
His opponent, the 31-year-old Gadzhi Rabadanov, is the reigning PFL lightweight champion from the 2023 season. He won the tournament title by defeating Brent Primus in the final. Rabadanov is currently on an impressive 11-fight winning streak dating back to 2020.
In the other lightweight semifinal matchup on the card, Brent Primus is set to face Alfie Davis. Davis recently secured a first-round victory over Clay Collard.
The PFL 5 event is scheduled to take place on June 20 at the INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
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