Kevin Lee addresses switching management amid ex-stablemate Francis Ngannou's pay dispute with the UFC
Kevin Lee recently broke ties with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the firm that used to represent UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou. Ngannou's manager Marquel Martin recently left CAA to start his own Web3-focused company.
According to Lee, the decision to leave CAA was collective in a sense and things got too dramatic amidst Ngannou's contract dispute with the UFC. 'The Motown Phenom' joined CAA ahead of his failed interim lightweight title bid against Tony Ferguson in 2017.
The once promising prospect never regained his momentum and was unceremoniously released from the promotion last year after going 2-5 in his last seven outings. Lee believes he could have capitalized better on a lot of opportunities had he been under better management.
The former UFC fighter, who now plies his trade at Eagle FC, recently told James Lynch:
"I won't say any names or say any companies that I'm going with. But yeah, it's kind of been a team decision to leave CAA. You know, it was getting a little too Hollywood and it just didn't benefit my career that much to be with CAA. I've been with them since the Tony Ferguson fight and since then I've got some big oppotunities but I feel like my career could have been handled a lot better."
Catch Kevin Lee's comments below:
Kevin Lee believes UFC release was backlash for Francis Ngannou's contract dispute
Francis Ngannou has long been engaged in a contract dispute with the UFC, with 'The Predator' demanding a clause in his new contract that allows him to compete in crossover fights. While Ngannou and the UFC continue to haggle, Kevin Lee claims he was made a scapegoat.
"They used me as kind of like a pawn, an scapegoat."
Kevin Lee thinks UFC release was retaliation for Francis Ngannou's contract dispute.
@dannyseguratv's interview: bit.ly/3uk3Zx9 https://t.co/ObtbsdWtOn
Francis Ngannou's manager Marquel Martin claimed Lee had several fights remaining on his contract when he was released from the UFC last November. 'The Motown Phenom' believes his release was the UFC's way of teaching CAA a lesson.
Lee's final fight in the UFC was a unanimous decision loss to Daniel Rodriguez in August last year. He made his Eagle FC debut earlier this year, defeating former UFC fighter Diego Sanchez.