
Kevin Lee signs with PFL, faces Gadzhi Rabadanov in June 20 main event
Kevin Lee is back in a headlining spot.
PFL announced Wednesday that Lee (20-8) has signed with the league and is set to fight Gadzhi Rabadanov (25-4-1) in the main event of PFL 5 on June 20. Lee steps in as a replacement for an injured Jay Jay Wilson.
This marks the league debut for Lee, who was previously announced as having signed to GFL this past December. However, with GFL having canceled its scheduled launch events that were to take place on May 24 and 25, Lee was apparently cleared to move on and sign with another organization.
Lee, 32, was a one-time interim lightweight title challenger in the UFC, later parting ways with the promotion amid a string of uneven results. During his UFC run, he compiled a record of 11-8. He seeks to capitalize on a win picked up on the regional scene this past September when he submitted Thiago Oliveira inside of a round at a Lights Out Championship event.
The 31-year-old Rabadanov is PFL’s reigning lightweight champion, having won the league’s 2024 tournament by defeating Brent Primus in the final. He is currently on an 11-fight win streak dating back to 2020.
In the other lightweight semifinal waits Primus and Alfie Davis, who is coming off of a first-round of Clay Collard.
PFL 5 takes place June 20 at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan.