Outside Source
Through the first two fights of the 2025 World Tournament, Rabadanov has spent a little over three total minutes of fight time inside the SmartCage.
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Following the conclusion of his first-round victory, Rabadanov was captured having a lengthy conversation with Lee, where the champion said Lee made a big revelation to him. Speaking to the media after his win, Rabadanov said that he and Lee shared respect toward one another, and then Lee mentioned that he was considering retirement. The PFL champion urged Lee to rethink that decision.
From PFL Wichita:
Following the conclusion of the main event, Gadzhi Rabadanov and Kevin Lee embraced in a post-fight conversation which Rabadanov revealed Lee mentioned the possibility of retirement. #PFLWorldTournament pic.twitter.com/Jufm9J96Bi— Mike Pendleton (@MP2310) June 22, 2025
“He said maybe he will retire, I told him ‘No way.’ I believe he can come back, he’s strong,” Rabadanov said. “I hope he will be back after a little bit of rest, and then he can come back.”
Rabadanov Offers Encouragment to PFL Semifinal Foe
Over the weekend, Lee also hinted at retirement. In a post on social media, he pondered if his body will ever get back to what it once was.
I’m not a coward. At least I can say that I tried. I shot for the stars.
My legs just aren’t what they used to be. I can’t absorb shots anymore and honestly I don’t know if it will come back
— Kevin Lee MTP (@MoTownPhenom) June 21, 2025
If this is indeed the end for Kevin Lee, he will end his professional MMA career with a 20-9 record. His peak was in the UFC, where he won nine of 10 bouts from 2014 to 2017 and challenged for the interim lightweight title. As for Rabadanov, he’ll look to win the lightweight world tournament in August when he faces Alfie Davis for the championship, which would be his second straight year picking up a PFL title.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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