Tag: Edson Barboza

Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy targeted to headline UFC card on May 18

Edson Barboza will test Lerone Murphy’s unbeaten record in a UFC Fight Night main event on May 18.

The second-quarter UFC schedule continues to fill out with main events with the addition of [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night on May 18.

Ranked featherweights will clash at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas when Barboza (24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC) takes on Murphy (13-0-1 MMA, 5-0-1 UFC) in a matchup scheduled for five rounds.

Two people with knowledge of the booking verified the news to MMA Junkie following an initial report from MMA journalist Laerte Viana. The people requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Barboza, an honorable mention in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie featherweight rankings, will make his 30th walk to the octagon at the event. The Brazilian is one of the most decorated fighters in company history to never compete for a title, and has put on a plethora of memorable bouts. Barboza, 38, is coming off a unanimous decision win over Sodiq Yusuff at UFC Fight Night 230 in October, and he received his UFC record 10th Fight of the Night bonus in that performance.

He will next be tasked with the undefeated No. 13-ranked Murphy, who gets a big step up in competition. Murphy, 32, is coming off a unanimous decision win over Joshua Culibao at UFC Fight Night 224 in July.

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24 fights on our 2024 MMA wish list: Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones (still), Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3, more

Here’s MMA Junkie’s 24-fight wishlist for the new year.

2023 didn’t disappoint in terms of great MMA action, and 2024 looks just as promising, if not more.

With 2024 underway, there’s a new year of fresh possibilities for dream matchups across the MMA landscape, from the UFC to Bellator, PFL, RIZIN FF, ONE Championship and more.

For 2023, unfortunately, only four of the 23 dream fights MMA Junkie wished for came to fruition. We’re not deterred, however, and are back with another slate of 24 matchups we aspire to see in 2024.

Below, we present MMA Junkie’s wish list of 24 fights we’d like to see in 2024.

The 10 best body-shot stoppages in MMA, ranked

Body shots don’t get enough love because they don’t provide the visuals of a head shot, but these finishes hurt just looking at them.

It is often said that mixed martial arts is still behind the proverbial curve when it comes to striking.

Whether we’re talking about fighters lacking jabs in open-stance affairs or the way in which striking is both adjudicated and tracked in this sport, there’s still a decent amount to be desired for those who appreciate fisticuffs on the finest level.

Moreover, whether we’re talking about MMA’s top officials and judges or Gen Pop who consumes this product, there seems to be a criminal underappreciation for strikes to the body.

Despite body shots proving to be effective since the existence of organized martial arts and combat sports alike, it’s still not uncommon to see fighters allowed to take unnecessary damage en route to defeat or be awarded questionable rounds for surviving frames due to MMA’s apparent blind spot for bodywork.

This, of course, is particularly ironic considering that fighters themselves (whether they’re speaking publicly on a broadcast or are answering privately in person) revere bodywork to the point where most of them would prefer a clean headshot over a brutal body blow.

Say what you will about the striking evolution in MMA, but the fighters have been providing us with some spectacular highlights in the body shot department for some time now.

So, with that in mind, I thought it would be fun to pay homage to all forms of body strikes by revisiting my top 10 most memorable body shot stoppages in MMA.

As usual, these lists reflect my personal tastes and biases and are not meant to serve as some ultimate authority. That said, I feel very strongly about not only my list but also my honorable mentions at the end – which are more than strong enough to serve as their own top 10.

So, without further ado …

UFC in 2023: A ridiculously robust look at the stats, streaks, skids and record-setters

Check out a full recap of 2023’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from UFC research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2023’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Month for October: Edson Barboza sets Fight of the Night record

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from October 2023.

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from October 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Month award for October.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice.

Nominees

Edson Barboza focused on UFC featherweight title, but open to lightweight trilogy vs. Paul Felder

Edson Barboza is focused on the UFC featherweight title, but also up for a return to lightweight for a rubber match against Paul Felder.

[autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] is focused on getting the UFC featherweight title, but he’s open to a detour for a particular fight at 155 pounds.

The veteran featherweight contender notched a big win this past Saturday, defeating Sodiq Yusuff in a wild Fight or the Night contest in the main event of UFC Fight Night 230 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

This win is part of Barboza’s latest campaign to get his long-desired title shot, and that’s why he’s hoping to get another ranked opponent to further his case.

“Somebody in front of me in the rankings because I want to be a champ, and I want to climb up and get my chance for the title shot in the future,” Barboza told MMA Junkie. “All these things you said, it’s going to be a great fight. All those guys. The UFC always puts me against the best guys in the world, and I’m ready for that, let’s keep climbing up.”

Although Barboza (23-11 MMA, 17-11 UFC) has his eyes on the featherweight title, the Brazilian is open to returning to 155 pounds for a trilogy fight against Paul Felder.

Felder retired in 2021 and has been teasing a comeback to MMA. The two are tied up 1-1, as they’ve traded decision wins once in 2015 and the other in 2019.

“Maybe, if he makes 145, why not? Maybe I go up to 155, I don’t know,” Barboza said. “I’m a fighter. If you watch my last two fights against him. It’s two really good fights. He’s a good fighter, and that’s the type of fights that I love. He’s a great fighter, a great guy. If I fought him, it’s going to be a war again, so you never know.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 230.

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Oct. 17: Edson Barboza nearing top 15

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

The main event of UFC Fight Night 230 was an incredible back-and-forth Fight of the Night battle.

[autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] overcame an early scare to defeat Sodiq Yusuff by unanimous decision. Thanks to his veteran savvy combined with powerful, dynamic striking, Barboza found a way to fight to victory after being nearly finished in the first round.

While Barboza remains outside of the top 15 at featherweight, this win has him knocking on the door among the honorable mentions.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

Sodiq Yusuff opens up on Edson Barboza loss from hospital bed: ‘I dropped the ball’

Sodiq Yusuff’s war with Edson Barboza at UFC Fight Night 230 resulted in a hospital trip for both men.

[autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag]’s war with [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night 230 resulted in a hospital trip for both men.

Barboza (24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC) rallied to outlast Yusuff (13-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in their five-round, Fight of the Night featherweight battle in this past Saturday’s main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Yusuff almost got the finish over Barboza less than a minute into the fight, but Barboza survived the onslaught and managed to win by unanimous decision. From his hospital bed, Yusuff released a statement addressing the loss, where Barboza was getting treated right behind him.

“It hurts a lot right now, but I know at the end of the day I’m going to get past it,” Yusuff said in a video on his YouTube channel. “I said it on the commentary after the fight: I was a good nail before I ever was a good hammer, and I’m not just saying that. I had a lot of bumps and bruises before I ever became that guy that you guys see fighting on the TV. So because of that, I know I’ll be back.

“Everybody out there has a fight, has a struggle that’s going on. You guys just get to watch mine on TV. I dropped the ball today, but the struggle continues. That’s fighting. No matter what you guys are doing out there, I wish you the best in your struggle or your fight. I hope you guys come out on top. For now, I’ve got to eat my ‘L.’ But I’m going to do it with my chin up and continue to be a good nail until I’m eventually a hammer again.”

With the loss, Yusuff saw his two-fight winning streak snapped. The 30-year-old has won 8 of his past 10 fights.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 230.

5 biggest takeaways from UFC Fight Night 230: Is Edson Barboza worthy of UFC Hall of Fame?

Analysis of the biggest storylines coming out of UFC Fight Night 230, including an examination of Edson Barboza’s legacy.

What mattered most at UFC Fight Night 230 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas? Here are a few post-fight musings …

Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Edson Barboza after UFC Fight Night 230 win?

Edson Barboza showed he’s worthy of another marquee matchup at featherweight after his thrilling UFC Fight Night 230 main event win.

(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Sodiq Yusuff after UFC Fight Night 230 loss?)

[autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] showed at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 230 that he’s not going to be a stepping stone for the next wave of featherweight contenders – at least not easily.

Barboza (24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC) added to his legend at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas when he overcame a first-round beatdown from Sodiq Yusuff (13-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) to rally his way to a unanimous decision win in a Fight of the Night that showed a lot about his character as a fighter.

At 37, no one can accuse Barboza of hanging around the sport for paydays or any of the wrong reasons. His passion is clear, and he continues to provide the fans with memorable battles or highlight-reel knockouts more often than not when he steps into the octagon.

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Barboza isn’t being given layups at this stage of his career, either. He’s very much relevant, and with his win, earned the opportunity to fight someone in the top 10 at 145 pounds.

Whom should it be, though? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Barboza’s future after the UFC Fight Night 230 main event.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 230.