Kevin Lee (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

UFC President Dana White has repeatedly shot down the possibility of the promotion creating a 165-pound division, but Kevin Lee still believes it will happen eventually.

Lee is preparing to face Rafael dos Anjos on May 18th, in a contest that will be “The Motown Phenom’s” welterweight debut. Lee has talked about the possibility of moving up to welterweight for some time, since he cuts a lot of weight to make 155. The 26-year-old has also been a vocal advocate for the creation of a 165-pound division.

While talking to the media recently ahead of the fight, Lee had this to say about a 165 bracket materializing (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“I think it’s inevitable,” Lee said. “I think we all kind of see that. I think it creates more work for them, and they don’t really see that much more benefit out of it. But, at the end of the day, when you talk about fighter safety and you talk about not having to dehydrate your brain and getting to fight a similar opponent, that’s what we’re looking for, is an even playing field.

“That’s why I’m actually glad that ‘RDA’ is going up – and you see (Anthony) Pettis go up, you see Jorge (Masvidal), you see a lot of other guys go up – just so we can fight on an even playing field. If I don’t have to dehydrate myself and dehydrate my brain 16 more pounds, please don’t make me. I think, for fighters’ safety, it has to be done. It’s just making more work for them, but I can’t tell somebody else how to do their job, so I’m going to do mine.”

Recently White said that a 165 division will not be created as long as he remains the President of the UFC.