Kevin Lee 'in full training' for potential GFL fight vs. Tony Ferguson, doubts Dillon Danis shows up
Despite the two not having a booked bout, Lee thinks he'll likely get the call to fight 'El Cucuy' since he doesn't see his opponent, Dillon Danis, showing up to their scheduled fight. GFL announced last month that Ferguson and Danis are set to meet in a lightweight bout at the inaugural event in May in Los Angeles. Lee has little faith that fight is happening.
'I don't necessarily see that fight happening,' Lee told MMA Junkie. 'I'm in full training right now. It's Ramadan, so I'm fasting and training at the same time, and yeah, that's the fight I think should happen, especially if they do it in L.A. or New York. But wherever they make the fight happen, I'm ready for it.'
Lee and Ferguson fought for the UFC interim lightweight title in 2017. In the UFC 216 main event in Las Vegas, Ferguson submitted Lee to win the belt. Since then, Lee has been wanting to run things back.
He fully expects Ferguson to be game for the first GFL event, but can't say the same thing about Danis – which is why he sees his rematch possible.
'I get it. They want to get Tony a win,' Lee said regarding the Ferguson vs. Danis matchup. 'I think that's what it's about, on top of kind of trying to capitalize on Dillon's star. … It seems like Dillon never shows up to fight. He's somebody who keeps his name in the media and does certain things that I don't necessarily condone to keep his name in the media, but he never fights. He never shows up to fight.
'So is that Tony Ferguson fight going to happen? I seriously doubt it. They were saying he's on Team New York. I'm on Team New York, and if that fight falls apart, I think it only makes sense that you make me and Tony again. That's the fight that makes the most sense and the biggest fight GFL can put on.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Sean O'Malley clarifies 'no plans as of now' to retire, targets December return
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley cleared the air surrounding his comments on possibly retiring early. In a recent episode of his "TimboSugarShow" podcast, O'Malley said it's possible he might never fight again. Tongue in cheek? Perhaps. O'Malley, 30, is coming off back-to-back title losses to bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili, most recently a submission setback at UFC 316 in June. O'Malley (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) clarified that he fully intends to fight again. "I mean, you just never know, life comes at you fast," O'Malley told MMA Junkie. "There's no plans as of now to stop fighting, but just putting life into perspective, you never know what's going to happen. Every time I get on the mats and I'm training, I'm grateful for that session." O'Malley competed twice in 2024 and hopes to mirror that activity this year. "I'd like to fight again (in) November, December," O'Malley said. "Get one more in by the end of the year. I'm going to go talk with the UFC in two weeks. I'm going to sit down with Hunter (Campbell), chat with him, and see where their head's at and go from there." Having fought in Las Vegas 10 times throughout his UFC tenure, O'Malley would prefer the final pay-per-view of the year over November at Madison Square Garden. "Someday, maybe," O'Malley said of fighting in New York. "I'm not too set on it. Like, I'd rather fight – I don't know, we'll see. Either one. If it were up to me, I'd probably pick Vegas, but it ain't up to me. It's up to the UFC."
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
UFC Fight Night 257 commentators, broadcast plans set for Shanghai return
The UFC returns to Shanghai for the first time since November 2017 on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 257 from Shanghai Indoor Stadium. As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there in China to help guide viewers through the experience. Details of who will be working as commentators and analysts for the show have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the plans – and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below. UFC Fight Night 257 broadcast The entire UFC Fight Night 257 card streams on ESPN+ in the U.S. The main card lineup is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. ET following prelims slated to start at 3 a.m. ET. UFC Fight Night 257 desk analysts Veteran broadcaster John Gooden serves as desk anchor and host at UFC Fight Night 257. Alan Jouban and "The Ultimate Fighter 15" winner Michael Chiesa will join him at the desk as an analyst on the post-fight show and throughout the broadcast, if necessary. UFC Fight Night 257 roving reporter UFC correspondent Karyn Bryant will conduct pre and post-fight interviews backstage with some of the athletes on the UFC Fight Night 257 card, as well as report additional real-time updates for the event. UFC Fight Night 257 octagon announcer The great Joe Martinez will introduce the fighters before battle and read official bout results inside the cage at UFC Fight Night 257. UFC Fight Night 257 cageside commentators Brendan Fitzgerald will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside at UFC Fight Night 257. He'll command play-by-play and be joined in the booth by UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping and Laura Sanko. Road to UFC broadcast team
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Aljamain Sterling still believes in Aaron Pico after devastating UFC 319 debut
Aljamain Sterling still sees potential in Aaron Pico after UFC 319. Pico (13-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) lost his octagon debut when he was knocked out by a Lerone Murphy (17-0-1 MMA, 9-0-1 UFC) spinning back elbow in Saturday's co-main event at United Center in Chicago. Pico now has been knocked out in four of his five professional losses, which Sterling finds concerning, but thinks the 28-year-old has the skillset to rebound. "One hundred percent," Sterling told MMA Junkie of Pico bouncing back. "I think it was just one tactical error, and something he made a similar mistake in Bellator. I don't know how he did that again, but this time I feel like that one was way worse. I don't know. I have to go back and see the other knockout, but they were both bad. But again, he looked great, he looked like a world-beater. There was one point where Lerone caught him with one clean shot where he looked like he shot in because he got hurt. So, I'm a little bit curious to see if he's chinny. "That spinning back elbow would have probably knocked anybody out, but yeah, that was always my question mark. Does he have a chin to go with his fight style? Because he's so aggressive and if he lands first, that's the fight. But the other guys catch him, you don't know. But I think he can still make some noise in the division. I mean, 'Pitbull' (Freire) lost his debut, came back, and won his second one. We'll see how Patchy (Mix) does, and we'll see how Pico bounces back. It's all about the mental aspect of it." Though the fight didn't last long, Pico was able to land two takedowns and out-strike Murphy before getting caught at the 3:21 mark of Round 1.
