Kevin Lee is desperately searching for a replacement opponent for UFC on ESPN 30 on Aug. 28 after Sean Brady fell out.
After Brady was forced to withdraw from the matchup, Lee (18-6 MMA, 11-6 UFC) insisted on still fighting on his scheduled date. He’s casting a wide net to claim a willingness to fight anyone the promotion can find for him, but there’s a few specific names Lee has gone after (via Instagram):
It looks like this fight is cursed, Sean Brady has to have surgery and can’t fight me August 28th. I’m still going to fight in the Comain event my team is looking for a new opponent, I’m ready to fight anybody with the balls to step up
Among the names on Lee’s hit list is Mike Perry (14-8 MMA, 7-8 UFC), who he pushed to compete against earlier this year before the contest failed to materialize. Lee said it’s “the fight people really wanted to see in the first place,” and challenged Perry to step up (via Instagram):
@platinummikeperry you told me you needed more time in July, how’s August 28th sound? Grow some balls and get on the treadmill we got 3 weeks
Perry has yet to respond to Lee, but another man did. Lee called out ranked welterweight contender Belal Muhammad (19-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC), who expressed interest in taking the fight, but not on the proposed date. Muhammad instead pitched a fight at UFC 266 on Sept. 25, citing an inefficient amount of training time to go this month (via Twitter):
That’s a little to soon but I’m down for ufc 266 though bro https://t.co/LCov8X3qrg
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) August 9, 2021
That’s a little to soon but I’m down for ufc 266 though bro
It remains to be seen who will ultimately end up sharing the octagon with Lee for his next bout. “The Motown Phenom” hasn’t seen action since March 2020, where he suffered a submission loss to Charles Oliveira in Brazil.
Lee has undergone ACL repair surgeries on both his knees during his layoff, but is now healthy and chomping at the bit to get back in the octagon at UFC on ESPN 30.
Kevin Lee wants ‘anyone with the balls to step up’ on Aug. 28, targets Mike Perry and Belal Muhammad
