Last Saturday night, Edson Barboza was able to crack his way into the top ten in the UFC with a decisive win over #7 ranked Bobby Green. He is now hoping to get a top five opponent so that he can become a title contender in the near future.
Barboza started out in the UFC with four straight victories and showed some of the most devastating leg-kicks that the lightweight division has ever seen. He stumbled against former WEC champion Jamie Varner in his fifth bout, losing by tko in the first round, but returned to form in his next three bouts to challenge top contender Donald Cerrone. At the first of the Cerrone bout it seemed to go Barboza’s way, but a stiff jab from Cerrone dropped Barboza to the canvas and Cerrone was able to lock in the rear-naked choke to finish Barboza. Edson got right back on the rebound, and took out Evan Dunham with a body kick and some follow-up punches. This woke up the fans, and turned thier eyes on Barboza once again, which led to the fight with Green. Barboza promises not to fail this time and wants to show UFC fans that he is the real deal and that he is coming for the title. He has the most imposing physique by far in his division and arguably the best kicks, and he is putting everything together to become a complete fighter.
Barboza has made it clear that he wants Cerrone again, but Myles Jury is set to face Cerrone next. A bout that may be of interest to Barboza would be the winner of Nate Diaz and Rafael dos Anjos. Either fighter would vault him up the ranks, Barboza matches up well with Nate Diaz because he’s physically stronger, has no way of getting taken down and can neutralize Diaz’s boxing with leg kicks and body kicks. Josh Thomson is another contender that may be a possibility for Barboza’s next fight.
The lightweight division is often touted as the most stacked division in the UFC and Dana White always talks about the small window of opportunity that each fighter has to make a name for themselves in the division. What makes Barboza shine is his flashy style. He landed the wheel kick heard ’round the world against Terry Etim. A vicious knock out kick that will forever be in highlight reels with the likes of Gonzaga’s knockout of Cro Cop and Pettis’s Showtime Kick against Bendo. Barboza has made himself a fan favorite and a fighter that people want to see. Hopefully he gets a high-profile fight soon that will help establish himself as a top contender in the UFC lightweight division.
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