Tag: Edson Barboza

Edson Barboza on Lerone Murphy at UFC Fight Night 241: ‘It’s going to be a war like always’

Edson Barboza vows to deliver at UFC Fight Night 241.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] vows to deliver at UFC Fight Night 241.

Barboza (24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC) takes on [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] (13-0-1 MMA, 5-0-1 UFC) in Saturday’s main event (ESPN+) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Owner of one of the greatest highlight reels in UFC history, Barboza’s nine Fight of the Night bonuses is the most in company history.

“He’s a really good fighter,” Barboza told MMA Junkie and other reporters on Murphy at Wednesday’s media day. “He has six fights in the UFC, but he showed that he’s one of the best. Of course the UFC don’t give him a chance to fight in the main event because he’s a nice guy.

“He’s fighting in the main event because he deserves it – he’s really good. It’s going to be a war, like always. Everybody knows every time I will step in the octagon, I’m ready for war, and I think Saturday is not going to be different.”

Barboza has fought a who’s-who in MMA, from former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov to former interim champ Justin Gaethje. The 38-year-old is coming off a Performance of Night knockout of Billy Quarantillo and a Fight of the Night battle against Sodiq Yusuff.

“Give my best: I think that’s going to be the key for this fight,” Barboza said. “If I go there and give my 100 percent and give my best, I’m going to win this fight.”

You can watch the full media day in the video above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 241.

Video: Is Patchy Mix’s Bellator title defense the best fight of the weekend?

Who has the better main event of the weekend, UFC or Bellator? We discuss on the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique.”

The UFC and PFL are hosting events this weekend, with Bellator Champions Series: Paris going down on Friday and UFC Fight Night 241 following on Saturday.

Both cards host very compelling main events with [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] vs.[autotag] Lerone Murphy[/autotag] headlining the UFC card, and [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag]’s title defense against [autotag]Magomed Magomedov[/autotag] being the top bill for Bellator.

Which promotion has the best MMA fight of the weekend?

MMA Junkie’s Matthew Wells, Dan Tom, Mike Bohn, and host Danny Segura unanimously agree its Mix’s return to the cage.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and also don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube or in podcast form.

https://youtube.com/live/kCQzad3LuR0

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UFC veteran Edson Barboza calls for BMF title fight vs. Max Holloway: ‘I think I deserve that’

Edson Barboza wants to throw down with Max Holloway for the BMF title.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] has put his name in the hat for the next Baddest Motherf*cker title fight in the UFC.

The longtime contender wants the promotion to give him a shot at [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag], who recently won the BMF belt in iconic fashion last month at UFC 300. Barboza (24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC), who fights Lerone Murphy (13-0-1 MMA, 5-0-1 UFC) this Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night 241, feels he’s done more than enough to deserve the opportunity. And if successful on Saturday, Barboza wants next on Holloway.

“If one guy deserves to fight for the BMF title, it’s me,” Barboza told reporters on Wednesday at media day. “Who has better highlight knockouts than me? Bro, imagine. I love Max Holloway, he’s one of my favorite fighters ever. I love to watch him fight, and he’s a very nice guy, very family guy, but imagine a fight against him for the BMF belt.

“It’s going to be very, very good for me and him and the company. Like I said, I have 30 fights in the UFC. I think I deserve that. Of course, my focus is 100 percent on the next one, but I think it’s going to be good.”

Holloway is the third BMF champion in the short history of the belt in the UFC. It was originally inaugurated in 2019 with a mega fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Masvidal won the title, and the belt stayed dormant as UFC CEO promised it was a one-and-done.

However, last July, the belt was brought back, and Gaethje claimed it by knocking out Dustin Poirier. Eventually, the belt found its way to Holloway after the Hawaiian knocked out Gaethje.

Like most people, Barboza was taken away by Holloway’s performance.

“Bro, like I said, I love him,” Barboza said. “I loved to watch the whole fight. He showed heart. He’s a great striker. He played everywhere. He’s definitely one of my favorite fighters ever to watch. I think that he’s one of the best ever, and it’s going to be a pleasure sharing the octagon with him.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 241.

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.