I have to look at this for what I'm seeing with my own eye balls. Since the Chiesa win where everyone was anointing Lee the next big thing, well - hes been the furthest thing from ..... coach or no coach or whomever is getting him ready. His only win in past 4 fights was an almost 25 minute fight where doctors halted fight agsinst someone who is now 1-4 in his last 5......and the one was hooker. I think barboza will continue to regress in re match with Felder ( that's just one mans opinion). Theres nothing really good to take from his 3 losses. He was stopped twice and lost as a healthy favorite to a fighter he had already lost to. ?????
I dont want to rain down on you but this " championship potential is clearer than ever" is more than a bit confusing. Hes now fighting upper tier to , at least, very good fighters and the results have not been good regardless of weight class.
If you see something I'm not then I can only respect your opinion.Im not calling the guy a can or even average but at this point, I now consider Lee nothing more than a good/solid fighter .
Don't think you're looking closely enough at his losses
His last fight was again, against a top 4 ww, former champion, a fight in which he was actually getting the better of the striking, even matching RDA in the kicking department, holding his own everywhere the fight went and didn't look to be out of his element skill wise at all. What he didn't do was manage his energy efficiently and fight intelligently, which not having a head coach anymore likely played a big factor in.
Gotta keep in mind as well that it was his first fight at 170, RDA himself said that Lee will take some time to get adjusted to the weight and that initially his own cardio and performance suffered.
RDA also coming off 3 fights in a row against the best wrestlers in the division was more prepared than he's ever been in his career. His wrestling looked great and he fought a very smart fight. Truly was the experienced veteran, conserving his energy and waiting for the right moment to strike.
for me and I believe many others, there were s lot of positive take always for Lee and unlike you, I don't see that fight as hurting his stock at all. Quite the opposite really, it showed the same potential that fans, fighters and onlookers alike have been discussing since the beginning.
He's a 26 year old who showed that he's not at all out of place in the top of the division. This is without a head coach. The skills are there, his boxing is better than it gets credit for, he outstruck Barboza for 5 rounds, was outstriking Tony. He was even getting the better of RDA. His kicks are actually very good as well. Defense and ability to avoid damage is better than it gets credit for. His wrestling is strong, hes definitely a strong brown belt level in Jiu jitsu. Not unlike GSP, he's very good everywhere.
There's a reason why GSP himself said Kevin Lee is gonna be the best, someone he's trained with himself mind you. Lee's actual skill set and potential is undeniable to people who are objectively paying attention. I'm not suggesting Lee is going to be the best, but it's clearGSP sees the same potential I do. Question is, why are the fans so far behind?
Some people just see losses and all context goes out the window, they see an L and are unable to take anything positive away from it. That's sherdog for you, zero objectivity. People forget his guy is 26. If he were 30-34 maybe I could see the lack of respect but he's nowhere near his peak.
But yeah, with a few adjustments, particularly to his conservation and utilization of energy, a bit more patience, calm and more effecient mechanism for mixing up his techniques, along with continuing to polish up his techniques, his potential is undeniable.
Only people suggesting other than I said here, no offense, do not understand how to analyze fights
