UFC lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee wants to compete on October’s UFC 229 card in Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, and has a specific opponent in mind.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani on his ESPN MMA Show, Lee claimed he met with UFC matchmakers last week and asked to fight ex-UFC and WEC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis. And, according to Lee, the powers that be at the UFC are into the idea for UFC 229.
UFC 229 is set to be one of the promotion’s flagship events of the year. Scheduled for October 6th, Conor McGregor is set to challenge Khabib Nurmagomedov for his newly-minted UFC lightweight championship in the main event.
Adding another top-tier lightweight bout to the card such as Lee – Pettis would attract plenty of eyeballs to one of the UFC’s most competitive divisions.
“I think the UFC likes the fight,” Lee said on the show [H/T ESPN’s Brett Okamoto]. “Apparently, there are two more spots on that UFC 229 card. They are trying to find, see where everyone settles. Tony Ferguson is still out there. There are some moving parts, but that’s the fight that makes sense.”
In the interview, Lee mentions he once trained alongside Pettis at Roufusport in Milwaukee. A Detroit native now residing in Las Vegas, Lee is interested to see how the two compare since training after several years apart.
“I’m the best lightweight out there, for sure,” Lee said. “Not only that, but I’m getting better and better. I’m constantly looking to improve myself.
“That’s why I’ve even stayed out of the media for bit, I’ve been working on my skills. Whatever the UFC decides, I’m going to be ready to go on Oct. 6, ready to make that weight, even if they don’t find me an opponent.”
