Edson Barboza

Edson Barboza or Edson Mendes Barboza Jr. is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist born on January 21, 1986. He is currently signed under the Ultimate Fighting Championship and competes in the lightweight division. As of April 2016, he is ranked sixth in his division by the UFC.

The Brazilian fighter was born premature and was given only a 50/50 chance of surviving his infancy years. But he miraculously survived and by age 8, he began training and competing in Muay Thai. He first began as a professional Muay Thai fighter with a record of 25-3, 22 of which are all by knockout, before he started his professional career in mixed martial arts in 2009. Before signing under the UFC in 2010, Barboza first fought under the Ring of Combat.

Barboza was born in Nova Friburgo in buzzing Rio de Janeiro, but now resides in West Palm Beach in Florida. He stands 5 feet and 11 inches and comes with a 75-inch reach. He trains with Ricardo Almeida BJJ and boasts a black belt in Taekwondo, a black prajied in Muay Thai and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In addition to his impressive Muay Thay record, Barboza also holds an equally impressive kickboxing record of 28 fights with 25 wins and 3 losses. His mixed martial arts record on the other hand includes 21 fights with 17 wins and 4 losses.

Some of Barboza’s accomplishments in the world of mixed martial arts include a six-time Fight of the Night, a one-time Knockout of the Night and a 2012 Knockout of the Year under the UFC. He also holds a one-time Renaissance MMA Lightweight Championship title, which he defended twice and a one-time Ring of Combat Lightweight Championship title.