Vicious striker Edson Barboza will take on Sodiq Yusuff in the UFC Vegas 81 main event this weekend. Barboza has been fighting in the UFC since 2010 and his highlight reel is one of the most impressive. Despite all this, his record is inconsistent and he has never won a main event. In this article, we take a look at his career and weigh up his chances of winning that elusive main event fight against Yusuff.
The Violent Career of Edson Barboza
When you think of Barboza, it is likely that several of his violent knockouts come to mind instantly. There is an abundance to choose from, and for a time, the Brazilian striker was one of the most revered and feared fighters on the roster. He is at his most dangerous when he keeps a fight at kickboxing range, and makes his opponents think twice before closing the distance. The knockouts piled up over the years as the kicks, knees and punches of Barboza destroyed multiple opponents.
His powerful, explosive kicks are his strength. He made the UFC take notice of this straight away, winning his debut against Mike Lullo via TKO after tearing up his legs with low kicks. This wasn’t his only TKO finish with leg kicks in the UFC though. He did the same to Rafaello Oliveira three years later at UFC 162, and helped instill the idea that leg kicks are not only to slow a fighter down, but a way to finish a fight.
His lightning fast body kicks and head kicks have always been an issue for his opponents too. They come so fast that he barely needs to set them up. The one that stands out is his spinning wheel kick KO over Terry Etim at UFC 142. To this day it is one of his most memorable moments in the UFC.
Coming up Short
Barboza’s career did not take off quite like many had expected it to. A two or three fight win streak here and there would be followed up by a defeat, and he could not get a run going that would put him in contention for the title. He has had many entertaining fights and racked up a highlight reel to be proud of, but so far the 37-year-old has not managed to win a main event despite having multiple chances.
He has wins over the likes of Bobby Green, Paul Felder, Anthony Pettis and Beneil Dariush, but has come up short when given the opportunity to break through against fighters like Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov. His main event loss to Justin Gaethje was another example of how Barboza could wilt if pressured by an opponent. He was knocked out cold in the very first round.
However, Barboza turned back the clock last time around and knocked out Billy Quarantillo with a knee as his opponent pushed him back towards the fence. This win has given him another shot at a main event against Sodiq Yusuff.
UFC Vegas 81: Edson Barboza vs Sodiq Yusuff
This fight is an intriguing matchup because Yusuff is in the process of rounding out his game. He is a power puncher who has won via TKO twice in the UFC and has three decision wins. He secured his last victory via guillotine choke, which could be a sign that he has been working on new things. It will be interesting to see how he looks against the veteran Barboza.
Both fighters do have a tendency to slow down as a fight progresses, and this could favour Barboza due to his experience. Yusuff will likely try and pressure Barboza though and look to hurt him early as much as he can. If he is unsuccessful, Barboza will have the chance to use his movement and footwork to set up his kicks and counter strikes. The more space Barboza has, the more likely it is that he will do some damage.
In an effort to avoid the kicking range of Barboza, Yusuff might turn to his wrestling game at certain points in the fight. He could take opportunities to clinch when in close and try to work and throw strikes while holding Barboza against the cage.
It’s the old guard vs the new in this fight. A win for Yusuff will see him land the biggest name on his record so far. Win or lose, it’s hard to predict where Barboza will go next. Whatever he decides, we can all agree that he has had one of the most riveting careers of any fighter that has entered the octagon.
Will Edson Barboza beat Sodiq Yusuff? Let us know your predictions in the comments!