Edson Barboza has a simple request after winning at UFC 262, and that’s a top-ranked name in the featherweight division.
Barboza (22-9 MMA, 16-9 UFC) moved to 2-1 since dropping down to 145 pounds when he earned a third-round TKO of Shane Burgos at this past Saturday’s event in Houston. The Brazilian fighter has been in the promotion for more than a decade, and he’s fought some of the biggest and best names along the way.
What Barboza wants now is the same treatment to continue – with no easing up. He thinks he’s proven himself after leaving his longtime home of lightweight in a career reinvention, and now he wants someone with a top-five ranking attached to their name.
“You can see the top five guys: Calvin Kattar, Yair Rodriguez, Zabit (Magomedsharipov), ‘Korean (Zombie)’, Max Holloway,” Barboza told MMA Junkie Radio. “That’s a main event. That’s a pay-per-view fight, for sure. UFC always gives me a chance to fight the best guys at 155. I hope they give me the chance to fight the best guys at 145.”
Barboza said he’s not picky. Of the names above, only “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung has a fight booked, as he’s scheduled to meet Dan Ige in the UFC Fight Night headliner on June 19. There are multiple other names available, but if Barboza had his pick, he’s quite intrigued by former longtime UFC champ Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC).
“Make a fight me and Holloway, five rounds, that would be crazy,” Barboza said. “That would be (one where) 100 percent people would love this fight. Me against Kattar, me against Rodriguez. I really believe I really deserve a top-five guy because my last two fights – I beat Ige, (who) was a top 10. Now I beat Burgos, he’s a top 10. I believe all my history with my performances, I really deserve a top-five next.”
Fresh off the big win over Burgos in the UFC 262 “Fight of the Night,” Barboza will take one week off training before getting back work at American Top Team. If he has his way, he’ll be booked for the next one soon after.
“I think I saw a card on the Aug. 27 or something like that,” Barboza said. “That’s going to be perfect. Rest this week, back to training next week. End of August going to be perfect to get back to fight.”
Edson Barboza wants ‘crazy’ Max Holloway matchup, but any top 5 name works
