MONTREAL – Few have been more critical and less impressed with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov than Kevin Lee.

But after watching Nurmagomedov submit Dustin Poirier in the third round at UFC 242, Lee (17-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) no longer believes Tony Ferguson is the one to dethrone the undefeated champ.

“I got to be honest: If you asked me before the Poirier fight, I would have been like Tony (Ferguson) is still like a 90 percent chance of winning,” Lee told MMA Junkie. “After seeing what Khabib did to Poirier, I think it’s going to be very hard for Tony to beat him.”

Former interim champ Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC), who beat Lee for that title in 2017, is expected to be next in line for Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC). And while many believe he’s the biggest threat to “The Eagle,” Lee now sees the matchup differently than he did before.

And “The Motown Phenom” believes after Nurmagomedov gets passed Ferguson, there aren’t that many intriguing options left, which could leave the door open for him to get a crack at the title sooner than later.

“After the Tony fight, there’s not many more competitors that people want to see fight him. That’s one of the big motivations for me to go down 155,” said Lee, whose last fight was a loss to Rafael dos Anjos at welterweight. “I think that a lot of people want to see me get in there with Khabib, and I want to see it too.”

Nurmagomedov’s UFC 242 victory was his second title defense in another near flawless performance. But Lee, who has been unimpressed with Nurmagomedov for most of his career, finally is giving him his due. The win over Poirier got his attention.

“I’m not going to lie: It was very, very impressive, and the people know I don’t get impressed very easily, especially with a guy like Khabib, but that one is very impressive,” Lee said. “One of those fights that got me up even, it made me step my game up. Literally, as soon as that fight was over, I got in my car and started driving to Montreal. I know what type of work I got to put in now.”

Lee has a bit of work to do before he can compete for the title, and he knows it. He’s lost three out of his last four but finds motivation in competing in a division with some of the best fighters in the organization.

“I’m taking it one step at a time, one opponent at a time,” Lee said. “Each opponent, especially at lightweight, it’s the most stacked division. It’s the most talent-rich division. So I’m taking each opponent as serious, but my eye is definitely on Khabib. …

“Whoever wins that fight, I’m definitely gunning for them. A lot of people want to see me and Tony (Ferguson) have the rematch, and I think me and Khabib is a great fight for the future.”