Kevin Lee: ‘Tony Ferguson Is Hands Down The Real Lightweight Champion’

UFC President Dana White says Conor McGregor will be stripped of his UFC lightweight title come April 7, but according to Kevin Lee, there’s only one real champion at 155-pounds anyway.

Speaking this past weekend backstage at UFC 222, Lee was asked who he regards as the kingpin at 155-pounds. The “Mo Town Phenom” didn’t need any time to think about his answer and he simply referred to the man who beat him for the interim UFC lightweight belt last year.

“I think hands down it’s Tony,” Lee said. “Tony Ferguson is a fight that I’m looking to get back in to. Everything I’m setting out is a plan to get back to that fight. He’s been the real champ and I don’t see any confusion about it really. You got Conor that a belt and he ain’t really a champ and even he knows that. 

“If he comes back and if he fights and he beats Tony then obviously he will have it, but obviously Tony Ferguson, he’s the real champ and he’s the one I’m getting back to.”

Lee will return to the UFC Octagon on April 21 when he takes on Edson Barboza and he’s promising that he’s going to return a better and more polished version of himself than fans have seen before.

“I think the losses are where you get that real experience at,” Lee said. “That’s the thing I’m taking from it. I’m already over it and I’m passed it. You will see on April 21st and I promised people they will see a whole new me and that’s what they are going to see.

“More poise, calm and collected. I’m going to go out there and get the job done and I’m confident as a motherf***er still. I’m ready to go.”

Watch the full interview: