Discover how Kevin Lee, during a media day interview ahead of his UFC comeback, expressed his heartfelt support for Bellator fighter Cris Lencioni, who suffered a heart attack and brain damage. Despite their past grappling contest, Lee shared his genuine concern and wished Lencioni the best in his recovery.
In a heartfelt moment, Kevin Lee, expressed his support for Bellator fighter Cris Lencioni, who recently suffered a heart attack and subsequent brain damage. Lencioni's condition has garnered an outpouring of support from the MMA community, and Lee is among those sending positive thoughts to his former grappling opponent.
During a media day interview, as Lee prepared for his UFC comeback after a two-year hiatus, he was informed about Lencioni's situation and shared his genuine concern. Reflecting on the news, Lee remarked, "It's heavy... I wish him the best, I wish his family the best, I wish the best for anybody... Especially when it comes down to health. I think that's first and foremost, even over fighting or anything else that he's got going on. We have a big team over at Kill Cliff FC, so yeah, we're all behind him."
Lencioni suffered a cardiac arrest during his training camp for the now-canceled UFC 298 fight. While his recovery process is expected to involve extensive treatment and rehabilitation, the future of his MMA career remains uncertain. The MMA community has rallied together to show support for Lencioni, with a GoFundMe campaign set up to assist his family during this challenging time.
Interestingly, Kevin Lee and Cris Lencioni have shared a mat before, competing against each other in a submission grappling contest. Lencioni emerged victorious, securing a unanimous decision over Lee at the Submission Underground 28 event in Portland, Oregon, on October 31, 2021. Despite any previous tensions resulting from their match, Lee harbors no animosity towards Lencioni and wishes him nothing but good health in his recovery.
As Lee prepares for his UFC comeback in the Welterweight division, he is set to face Rinat Fakhretdinov at UFC on ESPN 48. Confident in his abilities, Lee aims to overcome his relatively unknown but formidable opponent. His return to the octagon signifies a new chapter in his career, where he seeks to challenge himself against the best talent the welterweight division has to offer.
To learn more about Cris Lencioni's recovery and Kevin Lee's journey back to the UFC, click here for the full article.