Edson Barboza

Barboza was expected to face Josh Emmett in a featherweight bout on May 2, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 174. However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed to a future date Instead Barboza faced Dan Ige on May 16, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris. He lost the back-and-forth bout via split decision 16 out of 18 MMA media outlets scored the bout in favor of Barboza.

Barboza faced Justin Gaethje on March 30, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 2. He lost the fight via knockout in round one. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Barboza faced Paul Felder in a rematch on September 7, 2019 at UFC 242. He lost the fight by a controversial split decision. 13 out of 16 MMA media outlets scored the bout in favor of Barboza, and subsequently the decision was appealed to be overturned. UFC, working in lieu of an athletic commission, denied the appeal.

On December 31, 2019, Barboza announced he intends to move down to the Featherweight division and have his first Featherweight fight in the first quarter of 2020.

Barboza faced Kevin Lee on April 21, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 128. At the weigh-ins, Lee weighed in at 157 pounds, one pound over the lightweight non-title fight upper limit of 156 pounds. Subsequently, the bout proceeded at catchweight, and Lee forfeited 20% of his purse to Barboza. Barboza lost the fight via doctor stoppage at 2:18 of the fifth round.

Barboza faced Dan Hooker on December 15, 2018, at UFC on Fox 31. He won the fight via TKO in round three.

Barboza faced Beneil Dariush on March 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 106. He won the fight via knockout due to a flying knee in the second round. Subsequently, he earned his first Performance of the Night bonus award.

Barboza faced Khabib Nurmagomedov on December 30, 2017, at UFC 219. He lost the one-sided fight by unanimous decision.

After the loss against Ferguson, Barboza decided to move to New Jersey to train at Mark Henry's and Ricardo Almeida's MMA team. Barboza faced Anthony Pettis on April 23, 2016, at UFC 197. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Barboza faced Gilbert Melendez on July 23, 2016, at UFC on Fox 20. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Barboza faced Michael Johnson on February 22, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 61. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Barboza was expected to face Myles Jury on July 25, 2015, at UFC on Fox 16, replacing an injured Anthony Pettis. However, Jury himself had to pull out due to injury and was subsequently replaced by undefeated Paul Felder. Barboza won the fight via unanimous decision. He also earned his fifth Fight of the Night bonus award. UFC President Dana White gave Barboza and Felder high praise afterwards, calling the fight "incredible."

Barboza faced Tony Ferguson on December 11, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale, replacing an injured Khabib Nurmagomedov. After a back-and-forth first round that saw Ferguson docked one point due to an illegal upkick, Barboza lost the fight via submission in the second round. Subsequently, both fighters earned Fight of the Night honors.

Barboza faced Donald Cerrone on April 19, 2014, at UFC on Fox 11. Despite finding early success with his striking, Barboza was knocked down by a jab and lost via submission at 3:15 of the first round.

Barboza faced Evan Dunham on July 16, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 45. He won the fight via TKO in the first round after hurting Dunham with a body kick and landing subsequent punches to the head.

Barboza faced Bobby Green on November 22, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 57. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Barboza was expected to face Justin Salas on January 19, 2013, at UFC on FX 7. However, Salas was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Lucas Martins. Barboza defeated Martins via TKO (retirement) at 2:38 of the first round.

Barboza was scheduled to face John Makdessi on July 6, 2013, at UFC 162, but an injury forced Makdessi off the card and he was subsequently replaced by Rafaello Oliveira. Barboza won the fight by TKO due to leg kicks in the second round.

Barboza faced Danny Castillo on December 14, 2013, at UFC on Fox 9. After a dominant first round put in by Castillo, where he nearly finished Barboza via strikes and then with a submission attempt, Barboza rallied back to win the second and third rounds, and was awarded a majority decision. Subsequently, both fighters earned Fight of the Night honors.

Barboza next faced Terry Etim on January 14, 2012, at UFC 142. He defeated Etim by KO in the third round, becoming the first fighter in UFC history to finish an opponent via wheel kick. The win earned Barboza his first Knockout of the Night and 'Fight of the Night bonus awards

Barboza was expected to face Evan Dunham on May 26, 2012, at UFC 146, but Dunham dropped out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by returning veteran Jamie Varner. Barboza suffered his first professional MMA loss via Knockout in the first round.

Barboza faced Anthony Njokuani on March 19, 2011, at UFC 128, winning by unanimous decision. Both fighters earned Fight of the Night honors.

Barboza was expected to make his UFC debut against Darren Elkins on November 20, 2010, at UFC 123. However, Elkins was forced from the card with an injury and replaced by newcomer Mike Lullo. Shortly into the third round, Barboza defeated Lullo by TKO due to leg kicks (for the first time in UFC history).

Barboza comes from Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro. He was born prematurely at 28 weeks, and was given a 50/50 chance of surviving past infancy. At the age of 8, he began practicing and competing in Muay Thai. His professional Muay Thai record is 25-3 with 22 victories by knockout and 17 first round finishes. Barboza moved to the United States in January 2009 and joined "The Armory"[1] in Jupiter, Florida.

Barboza's professional MMA career began in April 2009 in Tampa, Florida, where he defeated Aaron Steadman via TKO in the first round. Barboza then defeated Lee King in the Renaissance MMA promotion, claiming the lightweight title via second-round KO. He defended the belt against King later that year, winning via submission in the first round.

Edson Mendes Barboza Jr. (born January 21, 1986) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai kickboxer who competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has formerly competed at lightweight.