{"id":307735,"date":"2019-03-29T19:29:58","date_gmt":"2019-03-30T02:29:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=307735"},"modified":"2019-03-29T19:30:00","modified_gmt":"2019-03-30T02:30:00","slug":"kevin-lee-explains-why-welterweight-is-the-ufcs-marquee-division","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/kevin-lee\/kevin-lee-explains-why-welterweight-is-the-ufcs-marquee-division\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Lee explains why welterweight is the UFC’s ‘marquee division’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Former UFC interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee is moving up to welterweight. On May 18, he is set to take on Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of UFC Rochester<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lee explained his decision to jump up a weight class and take on \u201cRDA\u201d during a recent interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWelterweight has become the marquee division,\u201d Lee said (transcript via MMAJunkie<\/a>). \u201cLightweight got stagnant for a little bit, and we\u2019re really starting to see some shakers and movers at 170. And, you\u2019re going to count me in on May 18.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the cuts to 155 pounds have proved difficult in the past, Lee isn’t sure if the move to welterweight is permanent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If his body reacts to the change how he anticipates, Lee is confident he will be able to get past dos Anjos and the entire welterweight division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDos Anjos has never seriously been hurt in a fight, and he\u2019s fought a lot of top guys already,\u201d Lee said. \u201cI\u2019m taking it as a full challenge. We\u2019re both 155, going up to 170. I\u2019ve been focusing on myself. I feel if I show up at 100 percent, completely healthy, there\u2019s not a man that can stop me, so that\u2019s what I\u2019m focused on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, after losing to Al Iaquinta in his last fight<\/a>, Lee realizes the move to welterweight couldn’t have come at a better time. Recently, former lightweights in Anthony Pettis<\/a> and Jorge Masvidal<\/a> have found big success inside the division. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel that a lot of people have their eye balls on 170 pounds,\u201d Lee said. \u201cThis is a fight that really has a lot of attention for me right out the gate. Even more than other big fights I\u2019ve had in the past, so I\u2019m excited for it. It\u2019s a big fight for my future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWelterweight is now the marquee division, especially now that I\u2019m in it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you agree with Kevin Lee that the welterweight division is the marquee division in the UFC? Sound off in the comment section, PENN Nation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article first appeared on <\/em>BJPenn.com<\/em><\/a> on 3\/29\/2019<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Former UFC interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee is moving up to welterweight. On May 18, he is set to take on Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of UFC Rochester. Lee explained his decision to jump up a weight class and take on \u201cRDA\u201d during a recent interview. \u201cWelterweight has become the marquee […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54463,"featured_media":288640,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[19995,39610,43349],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nKevin Lee explains why welterweight is the UFC's 'marquee division' | BJPenn.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Kevin Lee is moving up to welterweight. 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