After his unsuccessful welterweight debut, Kevin Lee will return to 155 pounds.
A lightweight match between Kevin Lee (18-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) and Gregor Gillespie (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) is confirmed by the media for UFC 244 on Nov. 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
In light of issues making the lightweight limit, Lee decided to move up to 170 pounds due to defeat to Al Iaquinta at UFC Milwaukee last December. In his debut in the division, he met former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos, in the main event of UFC Rochester but lost by submission. This loss was his second straight in the Octagon. After the loss to dos Anjos, lee future became uncertain however, he considered remaining at welterweight and also called out lightweight Islam Makhachev. The bout did not execute and now he will bout unbeaten Gillespie instead. “The Motown Phenom’s” last win came in April 2018 against Edson Barboza.
Former NCAA Division I wrestling champion Gregor Gillespie has been going strong since joining the UFC in 2016 with a perfect 6-0 record, including three knockouts and two submission wins along the way. The former Edinboro University All-American is considered a tough contender to the lightweight title if he can keep his winning streak alive.
UFC 244 is expected to be headlined by a welterweight fight between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal. Also on the card, Kelvin Gastelum welcomes ex-welterweight title challenger Darren Till to the middleweight division.
