/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59474883/usa_today_10800359.1524375500.jpg)
Kevin Lee vowed to improve upon the Khabib Nurmagomedov gameplan when he met Edson Barboza at UFC Atlantic City, and he did just that — with one little exception.
Lee survived a hellacious third-round spinning wheel kick to dominate and ultimately finish Barboza under a relentless wrestling attack, winning via fifth-round TKO due to doctor’s stoppage in the main event of UFC Atlantic City on Saturday night. After his impressive performance, Lee wasted no time calling out Nurmagomedov, the UFC’s new lightweight champion, adding his name to the already-loaded contendership queue at 155 pounds.
Check out reaction to Lee’s victory below, plus the best of the rest from UFC Atlantic City.
KEVIN LEE DEF. EDSON BARBOZA
Pure dismantlement by @MoTownPhenom just crushing Barboza’s dream spirit and soul in round 1 #ufc #ufcac #UFCAtlanticCity
— Anthony Birchak (@abirchakMMA) April 22, 2018
Both 10-8’s for Lee. Another round of that the corner should throw in the towel
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) April 22, 2018
Even half-dead he's dangerous! Great job by @MoTownPhenom getting it back to the mat.#UFCAtlanticCity
— Gerald Meerschaert (@The_Real_GM3) April 22, 2018
Do the stanky leg, do the stanky leeeeeeeg
— Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) April 22, 2018
Holy shit that hook kick almost sealed the deal!
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) April 22, 2018
Damn do the stanky leg ... damn #UFCATLANTICITY
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 22, 2018
Man barbosa has heart for days Kevin Lee looked good everywhere today #UFCAtlanticCity
— Belal muhammad (@bullyb170) April 22, 2018
Man, Barboza has absorbed an absurd amount of punishment in his last two fights. #UFCAtlanticCity pic.twitter.com/v5cNc25EIU
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 22, 2018
Awesome performance by @MoTownPhenom congrats!
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) April 22, 2018
@MoTownPhenom great fight! Solid as f**k
— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) April 22, 2018
Yeeeeesh, this fight was insane. Congrats to Lee! Big things coming for this young man. #UFCAC #UFCAtlanticCity
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 22, 2018
Great win for Kevin Lee. He looked great in this fight !! #UFCAtlanticCity
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) April 22, 2018
Bahahabahabaha ♀️ pic.twitter.com/T8v0UpTciH
— Marion Reneau (@BelizeanBruiser) April 22, 2018
FRANKIE EDGAR DEF. CUB SWANSON
Swanson to worried about the takedown he’s not letting loose
— Belal muhammad (@bullyb170) April 22, 2018
Thanks why we love Frankie!! Ignore those dumb statistics saying you can't bounce back!!
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 22, 2018
@FrankieEdgar is amazing
— Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) April 22, 2018
Take some time to appreciate @FrankieEdgar and everything he has done in @ufc #octagon true warrior it might be one of the last times we see him square off
— Damon Jackson (@DamonTheLeech) April 22, 2018
@FrankieEdgar is a gangster #UFCAC
— AlexSpartanNicholson (@spartanlife32) April 22, 2018
— Chan Sung Jung (@KoreanZombieMMA) April 22, 2018
Well done, Frankie. #UFCAC
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) April 22, 2018
JUSTIN WILLIS DEF. CHASE SHERMAN
Heavy weights pic.twitter.com/l8v2aOU4ep
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) April 22, 2018
Chase Sherman never GIFing up #UFCAC #UFCAtlanticCity
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 22, 2018
Willis hits very hard, but really needs to work on his cardio. #UFCAtlanticCity pic.twitter.com/IAtVULTutv
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 22, 2018
Willis has that Mark hunt style super lazy movement but will end you in seconds.
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) April 22, 2018
DAVID BRANCH DEF. THIAGO SANTOS
Oh shiiiiit! Beautiful ko by Branch!!!! #UFCAC #UFCAtlanticCity
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 22, 2018
Branch with a sick ko #UFCAtlanticCity
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) April 22, 2018
David Branch by KO?
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) April 22, 2018
Wow! Huge upset by Branch!!! #UFCAtlanticCity pic.twitter.com/UI688R4gRR
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 22, 2018
Pow . Nice finish @DavidcBranchMMA ! #UFCAtlanticCity
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 22, 2018
Nice fight Dave! https://t.co/XtOa2gnxV5
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 22, 2018
Wow huge performance for @DavidcBranchMMA who needed that aggressive win after the Rockhold fight. Always a super talented guy, great to see him showcase it
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) April 22, 2018
ALJAMAIN STERLING DEF. BRETT JOHNS
Good shit @FunkMaster_UFC
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) April 22, 2018
.such weird to hear a coach advice saying "stomp his foot" #sterlingvsjohns #UFCAC
— Nordine Taleb (@TNT83MMA) April 22, 2018
The @FunkMaster_UFC who fought tonight is a completely different fighter than the one that fought me. Don't get me wrong, he was tough back then but this #aljo has evolved into a patient and poised fighter. #congrats man! The #evolution is real.
— Bryan Caraway (@BryanCaraway) April 22, 2018
Aljo putting me to sleep here. Effective enough for a win #UFCAC #business
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) April 22, 2018
Aljo rebounds and gets back on track, taking Johns's 0 in a fight he decisively won every round! #ufcatlanticcity pic.twitter.com/Z3ML55ip9u
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 22, 2018
I’d would’ve loved to see Dom’s unamused facial expression when he heard that Aljo callout #UFCAC #UFCAtlanticCity
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 22, 2018
DAN HOOKER DEF. JIM MILLER
Sheesh that knee was #UFCAtlanticCity
— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) April 22, 2018
.@danthehangman holy mother of knee
— Olivier Aubin (@oliaubin) April 22, 2018
What a knee kick from @danthehangman Congrats on the win
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) April 22, 2018
Wow what a knee!! #UFCAC
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) April 22, 2018
He should change his name to Dan Knee’er #UFCAC #UFCAtlanticCity
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 22, 2018
Wow! The @danthehangman does it again #ufcac
— Neil Magny (@NeilMagny) April 22, 2018
Give that man a top 10 opponent. Far more aggressive then his usual self and looked on point against the veteran in Miller. Congrats on a solid and pofn victory @danthehangman
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) April 22, 2018
Wow
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) April 22, 2018
Eschewing Twitter, Hooker asks, respectfully, to fight Paul Felder next, who's interviewing him. Nice. #UFCAtlanticCity pic.twitter.com/iDZ3NlDHup
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 22, 2018
F*ck yeah @danthehangman
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) April 22, 2018
Is Jim ok?
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) April 22, 2018
Super fun place to get a stitch without anesthetic. I appreciate all of you and I’ll be back. I… https://t.co/pjIgl8mLct
— Jim Miller (@JimMiller_155) April 22, 2018
Poll
Whose performance stood out the most to you at UFC Atlantic City?
This poll is closed
-
56%
Kevin Lee def. Edson Barboza
-
7%
Frankie Edgar def. Cub Swanson
-
0%
Justin Willis def. Chase Sherman
-
14%
David Branch def. Thiago Santos
-
1%
Aljamain Sterling def. Brett Johns
-
19%
Dan Hooker def. Jim Miller
Loading comments...