Kevin Lee was 7-0 and riding a streak of four submission wins when he first fought under the UFC banner. Lee was 21 — the second youngest fighter on the UFC roster at that time — only 20-year-old Sergio Pettis was younger. Lee lost his UFC debut to 26-year-old Al Iaquinta by decision. Early this week, the UFC released the now 29-year-old Lee.
Lee went 11-7 with the UFC. He fought in the main event in six of his last eight fights with the promotion — including in the headlining bout of the UFC 216 pay-per-view — where Tony Ferguson defeated him via submission to claim the interim UFC lightweight title.