Kevin Lee wants Islam Makhachev fight at UFC 249 in Brooklyn, would like Bernie Sanders cageside

A fight between Kevin Lee and Islam Makhachev could be close to finally happening.

Speaking to MMA reporter Helen Yee in Las Vegas, where he gave an endorsement speech in support of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, Lee (18-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) said he wants Makhachev at UFC 249 on April 18 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

“Well, they’re talking about coming to Brooklyn, and Bernie’s from Brooklyn, so when we spoke, he wanted to see me fight, and he wanted to see me fight in his hometown,” Lee said. “I got to fight at MSG in front of Trump. The only level up is to fight in Barclay’s Center, me and Islam, we got the date. I don’t know what the holdup is on his end; there’s no holdup on mine. I’m ready to sign. Right now I’m just waiting on Islam.”

Makhachev, who, like Lee, already has expressed interest in a potential fight on numerous occasions, responded by saying he hasn’t been offered the fight.

“Never been offered Kevin Lee fight,” he tweeted. “Just send me the contract.”

UFC 249 will be headlined by lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov defending his title against Tony Ferguson.

Lee wants on that card so he can send a message to the champion, who would be watching his teammate take on Lee earlier in the night, should the fight materialize.

“I’m going to make a statement against Islam, and I’m going to do it on the same card that Khabib is fighting Tony, and Khabib can sit there and watch me beat up on his boy, and then we’ll make some noise afterwards,” Lee said.