Ali Akbar Rosady
Kevin Lee, a prominent figure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight and welterweight divisions for several years, has recently offered a retrospective analysis of his career trajectory within the promotion, drawing stark comparisons with Michael Chiesa’s recent retirement. Lee’s reflections, shared via social media, suggest that his professional path was significantly impacted by political choices he made in 2019, leading to a perceived downturn in his standing with the UFC, a "cold game" as he described it. This perspective comes after Chiesa, Lee’s former rival, received a high-profile farewell following his final bout.
The rivalry between Lee and Chiesa dates back to 2017, culminating in a main event clash at UFC Fight Night 112 in Oklahoma City on June 25, 2017. Leading up to that bout, the animosity between the two fighters was palpable, marked by a near-brawl during a pre-fight press conference. At the UFC Summer Kickoff Press Conference in May 2017, a verbal exchange escalated into a physical confrontation after Lee made comments about Chiesa’s mother, prompting Chiesa to stand up and confront Lee, resulting in a brief melee involving security and UFC President Dana White. Lee ultimately secured a first-round submission victory over Chiesa via rear-naked choke at 4:37 of the opening round, marking one of the most significant wins of his career at the time. This victory propelled Lee into an interim lightweight title fight against Tony Ferguson later that year at UFC 216, a bout he ultimately lost via submission in the third round.
Fast forward to the present, Michael Chiesa recently concluded his professional mixed martial arts career with a unanimous decision victory over Niko Price at UFC Seattle on November 2, 2024. Chiesa’s retirement was accompanied by a notable sendoff from the UFC, a moment that Lee highlighted as being in stark contrast to his own final appearance in the promotion. Lee, reflecting on Chiesa’s emotional farewell, which included his family and friends present to witness his final walk to the octagon, contrasted it with his own unceremonious exit. "He got a hero’s send off in the UFC, fought another retiring fighter in his hometown – mom, wife, everybody there to watch his life story," Lee stated on social media. Lee further alleged a backstage confrontation with Chiesa ahead of his own final UFC bout. "Chiesa tried to fight me in the locker room before the fight I didn’t say a word. Cold game fam."
Lee’s final fight under the UFC banner occurred on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48, where he faced Rinat Fakhretdinov in a preliminary bout held at the UFC Apex facility during the COVID-19 pandemic era. Lee was submitted via guillotine choke just 55 seconds into the first round, marking a swift and decisive end to his most recent tenure with the organization. This event, according to Lee, lacked the fanfare and personal acknowledgement that Chiesa received. Lee’s overall professional MMA record stands at 19 wins and 9 losses, with a UFC record of 11 wins and 8 losses. His career was characterized by explosive athleticism and grappling prowess, earning him six performance bonuses during his time with the promotion.
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However, Lee claims the true turning point for his career within the UFC was not his final fight against Fakhretdinov but an incident that transpired much earlier, in 2019. Following his impressive performance against Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244 on November 2, 2019, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Lee delivered one of the most memorable knockouts of the year. He landed a spectacular head kick that instantly rendered Gillespie unconscious just 2:19 into the first round, earning him a Performance of the Night bonus. The event was notably attended by then-President Donald Trump.
According to Lee’s account, after his victory over Gillespie, UFC officials informed him that President Trump wished to meet him. Lee, however, claims he chose to avoid the meeting, instead "snuck into the crowd and left the building." The situation, as described by Lee, escalated when, approximately a week later, he made a public appearance at a Bernie Sanders presidential campaign rally in Las Vegas, where he spoke on behalf of the U.S. Senator and two-time presidential candidate. This decision, Lee asserts, had immediate and lasting repercussions on his standing with the UFC.
"Aye listen I know exactly when I went wrong in the UFC’s eyes," Lee wrote. "After I won my fight at MSG 2019 they told me Trump wants to meet. I snuck into the crowd and left the building. Then I met with Bernie Sanders a week later and did a whole speech for him. At that point I was dead in the water. I was told this. It don’t have nothing to do with Chiesa." Lee concluded his statement with a cautionary note to aspiring athletes: "Let it be a lesson to any young athlete leave that politics s alone and don’t f with the church’s money." This latter phrase is commonly interpreted within the sports industry as a warning against actions that might jeopardize the financial interests or public image of a major promotional entity.
The UFC, under the leadership of President Dana White, has a well-documented and publicly acknowledged close relationship with Donald Trump. White has been a vocal supporter of Trump for many years, including speaking at the Republican National Convention and appearing at various political events. This close association has led to perceptions within the MMA community that political alignment, or lack thereof, with the UFC’s leadership could potentially influence a fighter’s career opportunities, promotional pushes, or overall standing within the organization. While the UFC maintains that fighter performance is the primary determinant of success, Lee’s claims introduce a layer of alleged political influence on a fighter’s trajectory.
Michael Chiesa, whose career Lee contrasted with his own, compiled a professional record of 18 wins and 8 losses, with a UFC record of 11 wins and 8 losses. After his loss to Lee in 2017, Chiesa transitioned to the welterweight division in 2019, where he enjoyed a resurgence, securing notable victories over Carlos Condit, Diego Sanchez, and Rafael dos Anjos, demonstrating his adaptability and resilience. His career, marked by a gritty fighting style and memorable submissions, saw him compete against some of the top names across two divisions, ultimately culminating in a celebratory retirement that Lee views through the lens of his own perceived political fallout.
Lee’s assertion that he was "dead in the water" after the Trump/Sanders incident highlights the complex interplay between professional sports, personal politics, and corporate relationships. While the UFC has not officially commented on Lee’s claims, his statements underscore a broader discussion within professional sports regarding athlete autonomy, freedom of speech, and the potential repercussions of actions perceived to be at odds with the interests of powerful promotional bodies. Lee’s journey, from interim title contender to a fighter alleging political reasons for his professional challenges, serves as a poignant narrative within the highly competitive and often unforgiving landscape of professional mixed martial arts.
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