Tag: Edson Barboza

Report: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Next Fight Set For UFC 219

Top-ranked lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov may have wanted to reschedule his interim title bout with Tony Ferguson for his long-awaited return, but apparently, the UFC has other plans. No. 3-ranked Edson Barboza just revealed during a Q&A session at this weekend’s UFC Sao Paulo (via MMA Fighting) that he is supposedly taking on Nurmagomedov at December […]

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Top-ranked lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov may have wanted to reschedule his interim title bout with Tony Ferguson for his long-awaited return, but apparently, the UFC has other plans.

No. 3-ranked Edson Barboza just revealed during a Q&A session at this weekend’s UFC Sao Paulo (via MMA Fighting) that he is supposedly taking on Nurmagomedov at December 30’s UFC 219 pay-per-view (PPV) event from Las Vegas:

“I just got the news a few minutes ago that my next fight will be on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas against Khabib Nurmagomedov. I’m really happy with this opportunity. It’s going to be a war.”

The UFC has not yet made the bout official.

Nurmagomedov has been out of action since stopping longtime contender Michael Johnson at last November’s UFC 205. He was scheduled to take on Ferguson for the interim lightweight belt at March’s UFC 209, but some serious issues with his weight cut left him out of action for the entirety of 2017 thus far.

Out of action dealing with injuries since his “Knockout of the Year” candidate versus Beneil Dariush last March, Barboza has won three straight bouts since losing to Ferguson in an all-out battle in late 2015, making his potential match-up with Nurmagomedov a clear title eliminator.

That is, in a UFC division where Conor McGregor isn’t the champ.

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Top Lightweight Opens Up On Possible Fight With Khabib Nurmagomedov

The UFC lightweight division is still just waiting for UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor to return and defend his title. UFC President Dana White continues to say that McGregor will defend the title against Tony Ferguson, who won the interim title earlier this month after submitting Kevin Lee at UFC 216. However, the UFC champion […]

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The UFC lightweight division is still just waiting for UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor to return and defend his title.

UFC President Dana White continues to say that McGregor will defend the title against Tony Ferguson, who won the interim title earlier this month after submitting Kevin Lee at UFC 216.

However, the UFC champion has options on the table as he could compete in a boxing match with Paulie Malignaggi or take a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz.

In terms of contenders in the lightweight division, you have Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje. They are set to square off Dec. 2 at UFC 218.

Now, another booking of top contenders could be close to being made official. Earlier this week, Edson Barboza said during an Instagram Live stream that he’s accepted an offer from the UFC to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 219.

“They offered me this fight, and I accepted it,” Barboza said, via MMAFighting.com. “I said I’ll be ready for December 30th, and it’s on him now. We’ll see what he does. I saw an interview with him yesterday, and he said he’ll fight me if Conor fights Ferguson, and (UFC President) Dana (White) already said that fight will happen, so I believe my next fight will be against Khabib.”

Barboza has now recovered from shoulder surgery. If you recall, he told MMAjunkie earlier this month that a fight with Nurmagomedov makes sense. Barboza has won three straight and is coming off a flying-knee knockout of Beneil Dariush in March at UFC Fight Night 106.

“He’s definitely one of the best in the division,” Barboza told MMAjunkie. “I think this fight really makes sense for me. I’m ready. If the UFC books this fight, I’m ready.”

UFC 219 is set to take place on December 30, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The promotion has yet to announce the main event for this show. The main card will air on pay-per-view while the preliminary card will air on FOX Sports 1 and the promotion’s streaming service, UFC Fight Pass.

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Edson Barboza Claims UFC Offered Him Bout With Nurmagomedov

If Edson Barboza is to be believed, then we may be seeing him take on Khabib Nurmagomedov soon. Nurmagomedov recently called for an interim Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title bout with Tony Ferguson. He said in the meantime, Conor McGregor should have a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz. Barboza says, “not so fast.” The third […]

If Edson Barboza is to be believed, then we may be seeing him take on Khabib Nurmagomedov soon. Nurmagomedov recently called for an interim Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title bout with Tony Ferguson. He said in the meantime, Conor McGregor should have a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz. Barboza says, “not so fast.” The third […]

Pics: Gilbert Melendez’s Battered Leg Is Disgusting

He may have lost a one-sided decision to Jeremy Stephens in his featherweight debut at last weekend’s (Sat., September 9, 2017) UFC 215 from Edmonton, but former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez earned the respect of the MMA world when he fought through an absolutely destroyed left leg from an onslaught of vicious Stephens low kicks. […]

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He may have lost a one-sided decision to Jeremy Stephens in his featherweight debut at last weekend’s (Sat., September 9, 2017) UFC 215 from Edmonton, but former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez earned the respect of the MMA world when he fought through an absolutely destroyed left leg from an onslaught of vicious Stephens low kicks.

Many wondered if “El Nino” was seriously injured in the bout, as the referee repeatedly stopped the aaction to check on the battered fighter, only to see him fight on when he could barely stand. Thankfully, however, Melendez has avoided serious injury according to his wife Keri, who thanked his supporters by posting an update online that Melendez had avoided knee damage and would heal up quick.

However, that doesn’t mean that he isn’t dealing with a nasty recovery, as she also posted some photos of his grotesquely swollen and bruised leg. Check them out:

Ouch.

Indeed Melendez is a soldier, as he had numerous chances to give up last weekend and no one would have blamed him. But he chose to fight on against one of the most powerful pure strikers at featherweight, and for that, he clearly deserves the respect of his fans and everyone else.

Yet it begs to be asked what battle that soldier is fighting, because after coming to the UFC as possibly the hottest fighter outside of the octagon, Melendez has gone a highly disappointing 1-5 with the world’s MMA leader, with his last win coming in an all-out battle with Diego Sanchez at October 2013’s UFC 166 that many still feel is one of the best MMA bouts of all-time.

That’s his only UFC win, however, and even reinventing himself at featherweight lead to defeat after more than a year off from his last loss, another one-sided affair with top-ranked lightweight Edson Barboza where he was again battered with low kicks. Training with the Diaz brothers, who are also susceptible to low kicks, it appears that’s become Melendez’ kryptonite of sorts, and Stephens clearly knew that on Saturday.

“El Nino” has hearts for days – that much will never be questioned. But just where does a 35-year-old “El Nino” go from here?

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Top Lightweight Calls For Conor McGregor To Be Stripped Of Belt

Highly ranked UFC lightweight contender Edson Barboza doesn’t think Conor McGregor is a ‘real champ’. The brash and outspoken Irishman won the 155-pound title with a brilliant knockout victory over Eddie Alvarez last November at UFC 205 in New York City, but he has yet to defend it, instead electing to accept a boxing match […]

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Highly ranked UFC lightweight contender Edson Barboza doesn’t think Conor McGregor is a ‘real champ’.

The brash and outspoken Irishman won the 155-pound title with a brilliant knockout victory over Eddie Alvarez last November at UFC 205 in New York City, but he has yet to defend it, instead electing to accept a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, which will take place on Aug. 26, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Because of this current situation, Barboza feels as if the UFC should strip McGregor of his title:

“Conor stays out for a long time. I don’t think he worries about the UFC, don’t worry about the division. He (doesn’t) respect us, and the UFC don’t get his belt,” Barboza said on a recent edition of The Fight Society podcast. “I really don’t understand why the UFC got the belt from (Germaine de Randamie) and why the UFC (doesn’t) get the belt from Conor? Take the belt (from) Conor. I really don’t understand. I think this belt in the UFC, Conor’s not a real champ.”

In fact, the Brazilian finds it ‘crazy’ that McGregor is still the UFC champion when his focus is currently on boxing:

“This guy is thinking about boxing; he’s thinking about another sport,” Barboza said. “He don’t think about the UFC. He don’t think about the division. That’s my job; that’s my work. I’m in the UFC to get the belt. I’m in the UFC to be the champ. I know I deserve the chance. This guy, because of him, our division is stuck. That’s not good. This guy doesn’t respect nobody. He doesn’t respect the UFC, and he’s still champ. That’s crazy.”

Now to highlight both sides, there have been reports indicating that McGregor plans to return to the Octagon before the end of the year to defend his title, but the division’s top contenders have continued to voice their displeasure with the state of the division.

Do you agree with Barboza?

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Edson Barboza Explains Why Conor McGregor Should be Stripped of Title

Edson Barboza doesn’t believe Conor McGregor should be recognized as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight title holder. McGregor is the reigning 155-pound champion, but he won’t be defending his title until at least the end of 2017. On Aug. 26, he’ll battle Floyd Mayweather in a boxing “super fight.” During a recent appearance on […]

Edson Barboza doesn’t believe Conor McGregor should be recognized as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight title holder. McGregor is the reigning 155-pound champion, but he won’t be defending his title until at least the end of 2017. On Aug. 26, he’ll battle Floyd Mayweather in a boxing “super fight.” During a recent appearance on […]