Kevin Lee

Kevin 'The Motown Phenom' Lee was one of the most physically gifted lightweights of his generation - explosive, athletic and a strong wrestler with a confident, brash personality to match. He climbed the rankings fast and earned an interim title shot against Tony Ferguson in 2017, the high point of his career even in defeat.

What followed was a maddening mix of brilliance and inconsistency: a stunning head-kick knockout of Gregor Gillespie and a win over Edson Barboza showed the ceiling, but losses and weight-class experiments kept him from sustaining a run. Fans were split between those dazzled by his talent and those frustrated by the trash talk and unrealized potential. At his best, though, he was one of the most exciting athletes in the division.