Welterweight · “The Motown Phenom”
Kevin Lee
20-9-0 UFC 11-8-0
Chain Wrestling
Smothering Control
Submission Efficiency
Submission-Vulnerable
5'9"Height
77"Reach
OrthodoxStance
34Age
3KO wins
4Sub wins
63.6%Finish rate
11:25Avg fight
Skill profile
striking
decent
1 read
grappling
not yet read
wrestling
solid
1 read
cardio
not yet read
durability
not yet read
138 MMA anchors Striking, Wrestling, TD Defense · stats alone on Accuracy, Striking D, Durability, Grappling, Control.
Chain Wrestling
46 takedowns from 106 attempts · 3.2 landed per 15 min
Smothering Control
41% of every fight spent in control position
Submission Efficiency
4 submission wins from 11 attempts
Submission-Vulnerable
4 of 8 losses came by submission
Career rates — the raw numbers behind the chart
Sig. strikes landed / min3.88
Sig. strikes absorbed / min3.6
Striking accuracy42.3%
Striking defense50.3%
Knockdowns / 15 min0.07
Takedowns / 15 min3.18
Takedown accuracy43.4%
Takedown defense75.0%
Sub attempts / 15 min0.76
Control time41.2%
Record vs .500+ opponents8-8
Insider info
vs Rinat Fakhretdinov lean UFC Fight Night Strickland vs Magomedov Full Card Breakdown & Predictions (UFC Vegas 76) · June 27, 2023
strikingdecent
wrestlingsolid
He says plainly that he is less confident than he was after rewatching tape, though he still gives Lee the stylistic edge; this is a stated drop in analytical confidence, separate from his wager-sizing comments, which per the standing rule do not themselves demote the grade.
A chain-wrestler who mixes single and double-leg attempts, advances position once the fight is down (sometimes working from against the cage), and is credited with very good takedown defense, including reversing takedowns and excelling in scrambles. His ground-and-pound is aimed at setting up a rear-naked choke. His cardio and these strengths are explicitly described as better early than late. One past performance (a win over an aging, faded opponent) is cited as him not looking his best despite getting the win.
StrengthChain-wrestling with single/double-leg variety
StrengthVery good takedown defense, especially against the fence
StrengthExcellent in scrambles
WeaknessCardio and these strengths fade in later rounds, per his own board-matched note
Striking trend
Fight history
L Rinat Fakhretdinov 19-1 walk-in Submission · R1 0:55 — UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Magomedov · July 1, 2023
3/8Sig. strikes
11/17Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Daniel Rodriguez 15-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Chikadze · August 28, 2021
56/160Sig. strikes
120/210Absorbed
3/7Takedowns
3:34Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Charles Oliveira 24-8 walk-in Submission · R3 0:28 — UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira · March 14, 2020
41/80Sig. strikes
43/65Absorbed
2/3Takedowns
6:30Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Gregor Gillespie 13-0 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 2:47 — UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz · November 2, 2019
21/59Sig. strikes
9/46Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:01Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Rafael Dos Anjos 27-11 walk-in Submission · R4 3:47 — UFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs. Lee · May 18, 2019
35/97Sig. strikes
60/111Absorbed
6/16Takedowns
8:41Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Al Iaquinta 13-4-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R5 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Iaquinta · December 15, 2018
102/296Sig. strikes
111/228Absorbed
3/5Takedowns
5:27Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Edson Barboza 19-5 walk-in TKO - Doctor's Stoppage · R5 2:18 — UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee · April 21, 2018
142/241Sig. strikes
51/106Absorbed
4/9Takedowns
15:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Tony Ferguson 22-3 walk-in TITLE Submission · R3 4:02 — UFC 216: Ferguson vs. Lee · October 7, 2017
55/119Sig. strikes
54/103Absorbed
3/6Takedowns
4:49Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Michael Chiesa 12-2 walk-in Submission · R1 4:37 — UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee · June 25, 2017
22/30Sig. strikes
4/9Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
3:34Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Francisco Trinaldo 21-4 walk-in Submission · R2 3:12 — UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Gastelum · March 11, 2017
15/43Sig. strikes
25/59Absorbed
1/8Takedowns
2:36Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Magomed Mustafaev 10-1 walk-in Submission · R2 4:31 — UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Hall 2 · November 19, 2016
20/28Sig. strikes
20/34Absorbed
7/9Takedowns
6:36Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
W Jake Matthews 11-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 4:06 — The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale · July 8, 2016
24/38Sig. strikes
5/13Absorbed
1/2Takedowns
2:35Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Efrain Escudero 24-10 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 197: Jones vs Saint Preux · April 23, 2016
64/160Sig. strikes
70/114Absorbed
1/4Takedowns
4:17Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Leonardo Santos 14-3-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 3:26 — UFC 194: Aldo vs McGregor · December 12, 2015
10/46Sig. strikes
32/48Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W James Moontasri 8-2 walk-in Submission · R1 2:56 — UFC Fight Night: Mir vs Duffee · July 15, 2015
9/28Sig. strikes
6/18Absorbed
1/2Takedowns
1:08Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Michel Prazeres 18-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs Thatch · February 14, 2015
62/153Sig. strikes
33/89Absorbed
4/5Takedowns
4:44Control
0Knockdowns
3Sub attempts
W Jon Tuck 8-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 178: Johnson vs Cariaso · September 27, 2014
74/157Sig. strikes
30/80Absorbed
4/9Takedowns
8:46Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Jesse Ronson 13-4 walk-in Decision - Split · R3 5:00 — The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn Finale · July 6, 2014
49/110Sig. strikes
48/100Absorbed
4/12Takedowns
7:04Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Al Iaquinta 7-2-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 169: Barao vs Faber 2 · February 1, 2014
39/142Sig. strikes
49/122Absorbed
1/8Takedowns
4:10Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
Walk-in records count UFC bouts in this database. For the pre-UFC career, see the record breakdown below or the Tapology button up top.
Record breakdown
Wins by method
KO/TKO
3
Submission
9
Decision
8
Other
0
Losses by method
KO/TKO
2
Submission
4
Decision
3
Other
0
Fights by organization
UFC
19
Instinct MMA
2
PFL
1
Lights Out Championship
1
Eagle FC
1
Total Warrior Combat
1
Canadian FC
1
Midwest Fight Series
1
+ 2 more organizations in the full career list
Full career — 29 fights, every organization
| Opponent | Method | Event | Org | Rd | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | Gadzhi Rabadanov | TKO (punches) | PFL 6 (2025)
June 20, 2025 |
PFL | 1 | 2:37 |
| W | Thiago Oliveira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Lights Out Championship 17
September 28, 2024 |
Lights Out Championship | 1 | 1:58 |
| L | Rinat Fakhretdinov | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov
July 1, 2023 |
UFC | 1 | 0:55 |
| W | Diego Sanchez | Decision (unanimous) | Eagle FC 46
March 11, 2022 |
Eagle FC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Daniel Rodriguez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze
August 28, 2021 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Charles Oliveira | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira
March 14, 2020 |
UFC | 3 | 0:28 |
| W | Gregor Gillespie | KO (head kick) | UFC 244
November 2, 2019 |
UFC | 1 | 2:47 |
| L | Rafael dos Anjos | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee
May 18, 2019 |
UFC | 4 | 3:47 |
| L | Al Iaquinta | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Lee vs. Iaquinta 2
December 15, 2018 |
UFC | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Edson Barboza | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee
April 21, 2018 |
UFC | 5 | 2:18 |
| L | Tony Ferguson | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC 216
October 7, 2017 |
UFC | 3 | 4:02 |
| W | Michael Chiesa | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee
June 25, 2017 |
UFC | 1 | 4:37 |
| W | Francisco Trinaldo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Gastelum
March 11, 2017 |
UFC | 2 | 3:12 |
| W | Magomed Mustafaev | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Hall 2
November 19, 2016 |
UFC | 2 | 4:31 |
| W | Jake Matthews | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale
July 8, 2016 |
UFC | 1 | 4:06 |
| W | Efraín Escudero | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 197
April 23, 2016 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Leonardo Santos | TKO (punches) | UFC 194
December 12, 2015 |
UFC | 1 | 3:26 |
| W | James Moontasri | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Mir vs. Duffee
July 15, 2015 |
UFC | 1 | 2:56 |
| W | Michel Prazeres | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch
February 14, 2015 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Jon Tuck | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 178
September 27, 2014 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Jesse Ronson | Decision (split) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn Finale
July 6, 2014 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Al Iaquinta | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 169
February 1, 2014 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Eric Moon | Submission (guillotine choke) | Total Warrior Combat 20
November 16, 2013 |
Total Warrior Combat | 1 | 1:24 |
| W | Travis Gervais | Submission (armbar) | Canadian FC 8
September 13, 2013 |
Canadian FC | 1 | 0:46 |
| W | Joseph Lile | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Midwest Fight Series 5
July 19, 2013 |
Midwest Fight Series | 3 | 1:29 |
| W | Kyle Prepolec | Submission (guillotine choke) | Michiana Fight League 29
April 13, 2013 |
Michiana Fight League | 2 | 2:17 |
| W | J. P. Reese | Decision (unanimous) | Impact Fight League 51
November 17, 2012 |
Impact Fight League | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Mansour Barnaoui | Decision (unanimous) | Instinct MMA: Instinct Fighting 4
June 29, 2012 |
Instinct MMA | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Levis Labrie | Decision (unanimous) | Instinct MMA: Instinct Fighting 3
March 31, 2012 |
Instinct MMA | 3 | 5:00 |
Career history from the fighter's Wikipedia record table (Kevin Lee) — results only, no strike stats; UFC bouts are marked and carry full stats in the fight history above.
Division context
Headshot of Kevin Lee by UFC · Official UFC athlete photo (copyright UFC; not freely licensed) · Wikimedia Commons · flattened onto dark background, cropped/resized