Gadzhi Rabadanov Urges Kevin Lee to Reconsider Retirement

In the main event of the PFL World Tournament Semifinals in Wichita, Kansas, 2024 PFL champion Gadzhi Rabadanov continued his dominant run throughout the promotion, defeating UFC veteran Kevin Lee in just over two minutes in the first round.

Through the first two fights of the 2025 World Tournament, Rabadanov has spent a little over three total minutes of fight time inside the SmartCage.

Following the conclusion of his first-round victory, Rabadanov was captured having a lengthy conversation with Lee, where the champion said Lee made a big revelation to him. Speaking to the media after his win, Rabadanov said that he and Lee shared respect toward one another, and then Lee mentioned that he was considering retirement. The PFL champion urged Lee to rethink that decision.

From PFL Wichita:

Following the conclusion of the main event, Gadzhi Rabadanov and Kevin Lee embraced in a post-fight conversation which Rabadanov revealed Lee mentioned the possibility of retirement. #PFLWorldTournament pic.twitter.com/Jufm9J96Bi

— Mike Pendleton (@MP2310) June 22, 2025

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the Semifinals of the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday, June 27 at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+

“He said maybe he will retire, I told him ‘No way.’ I believe he can come back, he’s strong,” Rabadanov said. “I hope he will be back after a little bit of rest, and then he can come back.”

Rabadanov Offers Encouragment to PFL Semifinal Foe

Over the weekend, Lee also hinted at retirement. In a post on social media, he pondered if his body will ever get back to what it once was.

I’m not a coward. 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

— Kevin Lee MTP (@MoTownPhenom) June 21, 2025

If this is indeed the end for Lee, he will end his professional MMA career with a 20-9 record. His peak was in the UFC, where he won nine of 10 bouts from 2014 to 2017 and challenged for the interim lightweight title. As for Rabadanov, he’ll look to win the lightweight world tournament in August when he faces Alfie Davis for the championship, which would be his second straight year picking up a PFL title.