KUALA LUMPUR: UFC lightweight fighter, Kevin Lee doesn't want to see anyone die inside or outside the cage as officials debate whether to add a new weight class.
American Lee, who was recently in KL on his Asia tour, has spoken out against the world's biggest MMA franchise after its reluctance to have new weight categories, especially the 165 pounds (74.8kg) division.
The issue has come up after MMA fighters had to risk their health or even lives by drastically cutting down on their weight to meet the scales.
Lee has called for changes to the weight classes after his friend and UFC middleweight fighter, Uriah Hall collapsed on the way to the scales for a fight against Vitor Belfort at UFC Fight Night 124.
Hall made the weight but suffered acute kidney failure and began convulsing in an elevator.
"Uriah was cutting down 185 (pounds) and he had a seizure on the weight down.
“He's a good friend of mine and that's not a joke, that's someone's life. He got swept under the rug.
“It could happen to me, to anyone of us and when people talk about my weight cut issues, they waiting on someone to die, waiting on me to die in order to change something on the sport, in order to make the necessary adjustments.
"I've been in 30 fights and wrestling matches where I've had to cut these weights. It's very, very taxing on the body. It's taken years off my life, years off the body, so if all I had to do is speak up about it then I'll do it.
"UFC don't know how to promote it or how much time it’s going to take to promote a 165-pound new division like that. I don't think that you should overlook our health and safety just because of the lack of promotion," said Lee.
The California State Athletic Commission officially recognised the 165-pound division last year but no leading MMA promotions have adopted it with the UFC president, Dana White, stating he was "never a fan".