More Fantasy News
Set for August fight
Barboza will headline the UFC's Aug. 28 Fight Night event and is scheduled to face Giga Chikadze in a featherweight bout, Nolan King and Mike Bohn of USA Today report.
ANALYSIS
Barboza owns a 16-9 UFC record and is coming off back-to-back wins against Makwan Amirkhani and Shane Burgos to improve to 2-0 since his recent move to featherweight. The Brazilian veteran now finds himself as a slight underdog against a Georgian prospect who is a perfect 6-0 to begin his UFC run. This looks like it will be a kickboxing match on paper, with both men featuring incredibly dangerous leg kicks to the head and body.
Barboza owns a 16-9 UFC record and is coming off back-to-back wins against Makwan Amirkhani and Shane Burgos to improve to 2-0 since his recent move to featherweight. The Brazilian veteran now finds himself as a slight underdog against a Georgian prospect who is a perfect 6-0 to begin his UFC run. This looks like it will be a kickboxing match on paper, with both men featuring incredibly dangerous leg kicks to the head and body.
Vintage performance in KO win
Barboza defeated Shane Burgos via TKO (punches) at 1:16 of Round 3 at UFC 262 on Saturday in Houston.
ANALYSIS
What a fight. Edson looked like the Barboza of old as he made an early concerted attempt to damage Burgos' lead leg with massive kicks. A good majority of them landed, and the American the compromised throughout the course of the bout. Burgos got back in it in a much closer Round 2, but Barboza landed with a sweeping right hook early in Round 3 that Burgos handled initially before eventually stumbling backwards and falling to the ground after about five seconds. Barboza was there to fire off a couple follow-up shots, but referee Mike Beltran was on it and quickly and correctly waived the fight off. Despite Barboza picking up the stoppage, both men were winners after getting $75,000 bonuses due to this back-and-forth affair earning Fight of the Night honors. Now 35 years of age, Edson is clearly better equipped to make a run at featherweight as opposed to lightweight as long as his body can handle the weight cut down to 146 pounds. Barboza has openly stated that the cut is very difficult for him, which isn't surprising considering he's 5-foot-11 and was a physical fighter at 155 pounds.
What a fight. Edson looked like the Barboza of old as he made an early concerted attempt to damage Burgos' lead leg with massive kicks. A good majority of them landed, and the American the compromised throughout the course of the bout. Burgos got back in it in a much closer Round 2, but Barboza landed with a sweeping right hook early in Round 3 that Burgos handled initially before eventually stumbling backwards and falling to the ground after about five seconds. Barboza was there to fire off a couple follow-up shots, but referee Mike Beltran was on it and quickly and correctly waived the fight off. Despite Barboza picking up the stoppage, both men were winners after getting $75,000 bonuses due to this back-and-forth affair earning Fight of the Night honors. Now 35 years of age, Edson is clearly better equipped to make a run at featherweight as opposed to lightweight as long as his body can handle the weight cut down to 146 pounds. Barboza has openly stated that the cut is very difficult for him, which isn't surprising considering he's 5-foot-11 and was a physical fighter at 155 pounds.
Fight with Burgos on May 15
Barboza will square off against Shane Burgos in a featherweight bout at the UFC event on May 15, Raphael Marinho of Combate.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Barboza inked an extension with the UFC last week and already has he next fight lined up. He will be making his first appearance in the Octagon since last October when he defeated Makwan Amirkhani via unanimous decision. Barboza is just 2-5 in his last seven fights, however.
Barboza inked an extension with the UFC last week and already has he next fight lined up. He will be making his first appearance in the Octagon since last October when he defeated Makwan Amirkhani via unanimous decision. Barboza is just 2-5 in his last seven fights, however.
Inks extension with UFC
Barboza recently signed a new, multi-fight contract with the UFC, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Despite the UFC seemingly trying to trim some of the aging fighters from its roster, Barboza is a combatant the company ultimately wanted to keep around. While the 35-year-old is just 2-5 in his last seven fights, he is coming off a victory against Makwan Amirkhani his last time out, and his two previous losses were via split decision. Barboza also has quality wins against Dan Hooker, Beneil Dariush and Paul Felder on his resume. The American Top Team product, as well as his trademark vicious body kicks, will now be around in the UFC for the foreseeable future (although the official terms of the deal were not disclosed).
Despite the UFC seemingly trying to trim some of the aging fighters from its roster, Barboza is a combatant the company ultimately wanted to keep around. While the 35-year-old is just 2-5 in his last seven fights, he is coming off a victory against Makwan Amirkhani his last time out, and his two previous losses were via split decision. Barboza also has quality wins against Dan Hooker, Beneil Dariush and Paul Felder on his resume. The American Top Team product, as well as his trademark vicious body kicks, will now be around in the UFC for the foreseeable future (although the official terms of the deal were not disclosed).
Rebounds with strong effort
Barboza defeated Makwan Amirkhani via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
Barboza needed a rebound performance in the worst way and got it. Entering with five losses in his past seven bouts, Edson leaned on his striking to get back in the win column. He hung with Amirkhani move-for-move when the two men ended up on the mat, but it was the power shots -- led by a pair of knockdowns in Round 2 -- that won Barboza this fight. Of the five losses previously mentioned, two were to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje, one was via a doctor's stoppage and two were via split decision. So while the recent record looks lousy, Barboza appears to have plenty of gas left in the tank. Edson turns 35 years of age this coming January, so he certainly can't afford another prolonged losing streak, but this strong effort should put him back on track at 145 pounds.
Barboza needed a rebound performance in the worst way and got it. Entering with five losses in his past seven bouts, Edson leaned on his striking to get back in the win column. He hung with Amirkhani move-for-move when the two men ended up on the mat, but it was the power shots -- led by a pair of knockdowns in Round 2 -- that won Barboza this fight. Of the five losses previously mentioned, two were to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje, one was via a doctor's stoppage and two were via split decision. So while the recent record looks lousy, Barboza appears to have plenty of gas left in the tank. Edson turns 35 years of age this coming January, so he certainly can't afford another prolonged losing streak, but this strong effort should put him back on track at 145 pounds.