‘This is the worst of the worst’: Kevin Lee calls broken jaw the most horrific injury he’s suffered in his career

Kevin Lee has undergone numerous surgeries and endured some grueling injuries over the years but nothing tops the broken jaw he suffered in his fight against Gadzhi Rabadanov in his PFL debut.

The veteran lightweight, who signed with the PFL as a late replacement jumping into the 2025 tournament, didn’t make it out of the first round after Rabadonov blitzed him with strikes that left him face down in the canvas. Afterwards, Lee revealed that he actually suffered a broken jaw as a result of the damage he absorbed in the fight.

To aid his recovery, Lee had his jaw wired shut and he admits this is by far the worst injury of his career.

“Listen, I done had all types of injuries before,” Lee said on Instagram. “I done broke most of my fingers, my toes, broken bones in my foot. Twisted my ankle. Shin splints. Three knee surgeries — three ACL surgeries. Messed up my meniscus, my MCL, grade three tear in my hamstring. My hip. Tore my groin before. Had an ulcer before. My shoulders, I could keep going on.

“This kind of goes without saying but do not break your jaw. Do not get your jaw wired. This is the worst of the worst. There’s not even a close second. 24/7, it sucks. It f*cking sucks. There’s no two ways around it.”

Lee, who returned from retirement with hopes of eventually going back to the UFC, ended up scoring a win on the regional scene before signing with PFL in a multi-fight deal.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go his way with Rabadanov ending his PFL debut with a first-round knockout as the 2024 lightweight champion continues his reign of terror over the 155-pound division. Rabadanov has now scored four consecutive knockout victories in a row including additional wins over former Bellator champion Brent Primus and UFC veteran Marc Diakiese.

Following the loss, Lee admitted that he “can’t absorb shots anymore” and remained undecided on whether or not he would return to compete again.