Edson Barboza reflects on his 15-year UFC career, highlighting his toughest fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov and expressing satisfaction with his achievements, while still aspiring for a potential title shot.
Edson Barboza recently marked his 15th anniversary in the UFC. Over the years, he’s faced some of the greatest lightweights, but none left him as stunned as Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Reflecting on his career before his 32nd octagon appearance against Jalin Turner at UFC 323, Barboza singled out “The Eagle” as his toughest opponent. Their clash in December 2017 came when Barboza was on a winning streak, but Khabib’s dominance was undeniable.
“It was the only fight where I thought, ‘Man, this guy is ahead of me,’” Barboza shared with MMA Fighting. Khabib’s strategic brilliance left Barboza feeling outmatched, constantly a step behind.
“He’s a guy I fought and thought, ‘Damn, this guy is good,’” Barboza admitted. Khabib’s mastery was something Barboza found uniquely challenging.
Despite his challenges, Barboza has delivered knockouts in half of his 18 UFC victories, taking down fighters like Dariush and Hooker. Yet, he believes his best knockout is still on the horizon.
“The next one, the one happening on December 6,” Barboza confidently predicted about his fight with Turner. “That’s going to be the best knockout of my career.”
Throughout his 15 years, Barboza has also claimed victories through decisions, each fight a battle. One recent win stands out as “special.”
“It was a main event against Sodiq [Yusuff],” Barboza recalled. Knocked down early, he fought back to win, describing it as an unforgettable war.
Approaching 40, Barboza remains committed to making the most of his time in the octagon. He reflects on his career with satisfaction, though a title fight would be the cherry on top.
“I’m very satisfied with my career,” Barboza said. While a title shot would be nice, he’s at peace with whatever the future holds.