KANSAS CITY, Mo. – [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] is still determined to climb up the UFC featherweight ranks.
Following his spectacular first-round knockout of Billy Quarantillo at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 44, Barboza (23-11 MMA, 17-11 UFC) is looking to get a named opponent, specifically someone ranked above him. The Brazilian doesn’t care who it is. All that matters is that he’s making his way up the division.
“I’ll fight anybody anywhere,” Barboza told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 44 post-fight news conference. “I say yes for everybody. Especially if you want to fight me, I want to fight you. Like I said, I fight anybody anywhere. I hope the UFC gives me a chance to fight somebody in the rankings. Anybody in front of me in the rankings, I’m ready.”
Barboza entered Saturday’s UFC event with back-to-back losses to Bryce Mitchell and Giga Chikadze. Not only was the featherweight veteran able to get back in the win column, but he did so in brutal fashion.
Barboza needed less than a round to put the lights out on Quarantillo (17-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) with a knee to the chin. Barboza feels relieved to be back to his winning ways.
“I’m very happy. It was a long year for me.” Batrboza said. “It was super hard. But yeah, I came back on the right time and with a beautiful knockout. I’m very happy.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 44.