What changed
2026-08-18 09:04 UTC → 2026-08-19 23:08 UTC ·
added
removed
At Following a second-round TKO loss to Esteban Ribovics at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, Argentine fighter Esteban Ribovics defeated 40-year-old Brazilian veteran Edson Barboza via technical knockout in the second round. Following the loss, the 40-year-old Barboza has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, leaving his gloves in the center of the octagon to conclude arts. Barboza concluded a 16-year career. career spanning 16 years and 33 UFC fights with a professional record of 24-15. While Barboza previously cited general physical decline and a loss of competitive edge as the primary reasons for edge, he later revealed that his departure, noting, “I don’t feel final three bouts were contested while suffering from severe vision impairment in his right eye. The injury occurred during a May 2024 main event against Lerone Murphy. Barboza described the same.” He indicated condition as seeing “nothing or seeing flashes of light” and noted that while he continued to train hard, his body could can no longer see out of that side of his face. Despite undergoing two surgeries and receiving advice from his wife to retire immediately after the Murphy bout, he continued to compete at a high level. to assess his condition. Throughout his tenure, Barboza leaves the UFC with a professional record of 24-15, having established himself as a prominent striker throughout premier striker, known for landing the first spinning wheel-kick knockout in UFC history and headlining five cards. He leaves the promotion with 18 wins and 13 post-fight bonuses. Barboza intends to transition into coaching to share his tenure. experience with future fighters.