Kevin Lee’s Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut ended in disaster when 2024 PFL Lightweight champion Gadzhi Rabadanov knocked him out in under three minutes during the PFL 6 main event on Friday, June 20, 2025, at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas (watch highlights).
Yesterday (Sat., June 21, 2025), Lee addressed the devastating loss on social media, sharing a candid reflection.
“I’m not a coward,” Lee wrote. At least I can say that I tried.
I shot for the stars. My legs just aren’t what they used to be. I can’t absorb shots anymore, and honestly, I don’t know if it will come back.”
Accompanying the post was a photo of Lee with his jaw wired shut, suggesting a likely jaw fracture sustained in the fight.
The PFL 6 loss marked Lee’s second career knockout, following his first against Leonardo Santos in 2015. Since his spectacular knockout of Gregor Gillespie in 2019 (re-live it), Lee has secured only two victories, one against Diego Sanchez.
Although Lee, at 32, stopped short of announcing a third retirement, his admission that he can no longer take punches and that his legs are “basically gone” raises serious questions about his future. Continuing in PFL against lesser opponents like Jay Jay Wilson might keep him active, but would it serve a purpose? Would fans care?
Maybe a rematch with Tony Ferguson, another fighter grappling with his own decline, could be a fitting—if bittersweet—next step for both.
For complete PFL World Tournament 6 results click here.
