Kevin Lee could become UFC champ 'if he's disciplined,' says coach

Kevin Lee's new coach believes the lightweight contender could be back on the path to a UFC title.

"(In) his last fight, I was happy he stayed disciplined. ... He could become a world champion if he's disciplined," TriStar head coach Firas Zahabi said Wednesday on the "Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show."

Once considered the next big thing at 155 pounds, Lee hit a rough patch over the past year. He knew something had to change and moved to Montreal to train at TriStar. The switch to the renowned gym seemingly paid off, as Lee ended a two-fight skid at UFC 244 on Nov. 2.

Originally from Detroit, Lee trained at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas over the past few years. But after the passing of the gym's head coach Robert Follis in 2017, Lee lacked guidance.

"He (had) a great training team already. He just (didn't) have somebody to kind of put it all together," Zahabi said of Lee's former coaching situation.

Zahabi added, "His personality is a wildcat. He's a commando. Me, I'm the opposite. I'm calculated. I'm a scalpel, he's a chainsaw, which, together, makes a great blend."

Rogan, who introduced Lee to Zahabi, said he knew TriStar would be the right fit for the 27-year-old, comparing Lee to Zahabi's longtime student and former UFC two-division champion Georges St-Pierre. St-Pierre is considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.

"I'm not saying he's the same level as Georges, but Georges fights like that - with wrestling, and great striking, and submissions," Rogan said. "He mixes it all up, he's unpredictable in his attacks. They're very similar."

Lee returned to 155 pounds in his last fight - a head-kick knockout of Gregor Gillespie - after a brief stint at welterweight. He's 11-5 in the Octagon overall.