Issue 079
September 2011
The undefeated spin-kicking UFC lightweight Edson Barboza is only eight fights into his career and pundits are already comparing him to 205lb phenom Jon Jones. The 25-year-old Brazilian’s just soaking it all in…
NEED TO KNOW
NAME EDSON BARBOZA
AGE 25
STARTED 2009
TEAM THE ARMOURY
DIVISION LIGHTWEIGHT
STYLE BJJ, MUAY THAI
RECORD 8-0
You have a very aggressive style that’s seen you end 75% of your fights with strikes, and you even won your first UFC fight by TKO due to leg kicks at UFC 123. Do you use that style for yourself or do you fight for the fans? Is it more important to you to win or put on exciting fights?
“My aggressive style comes from Muay Thai because I have been doing it since I was eight years old. It’s a very aggressive martial art by nature so I think I grew up with it in me. The most important thing for me is always to give my best and that’s always my intention every time I step inside the cage.”
You’re undefeated at the moment and getting a lot of hype. Do you ever see yourself losing?
“Well, it’s a game where at any time you can win and at another time you can lose. I’m prepared for everything and will always give my best inside the Octagon, no matter what.”
You moved to the US from Brazil to train MMA without even taking a fight first in your home country. How come you took such a large step to move to a completely foreign country to start a new career without trying it out first?
“I made the decision two years ago because the chance came up to become a member of The Armory and I grabbed the opportunity with all my strength. Thank God everything has been working out. My friends and family have been giving me brilliant support whether they’ve been close to me or far away back in Brazil. And on top of my manager Alex Davis and coach Joe Mullings, I’ve had great help from my teammates, sponsors and most of all my fans. I’m very thankful to all of them.”
How do you feel about fighting at UFC 134 in your home country of Brazil? In your opinion, what’s the importance of the event to the growth of the sport there?
“I feel honored to fight in my country because I know many fighters would love to have the opportunity, but for me, when the cage is closed it’s you and the guy, so it is the same thing everywhere. I can feel the positive energy from the audience wherever I am, but of course it will be more exciting being in my country. I am happy to see the development of the sport in Brazil because it has been increasing all over. Brazil, as everybody knows, has many great fighters so nothing is better than putting on an event of this magnitude in Brazil and for it to have the effect that its has been having. It’s fantastic.”
You’re fighting British lightweight and Ultimate Fighter winner Ross Pearson on the UFC 134 card. What are you expecting from him? Do you already have a set strategy for the match-up?
“I’m focused on my game, training a lot on the ground and a lot of wrestling but I haven’t set a specific gameplan for the fight yet.”
How did you first get involved in fighting?
“I began to train Muay Thai when I was eight years old at a samba school facility as part of a social project that taught Muay Thai to poor, inner-city children. As I didn’t have the money to afford classes I started to train there. My first Muay Thai fight and win I had was when I was eight. As I grew up I won important titles in Muay Thai like Brazilian champion, Demolition grand prix winner and state champion. When I was 18 I earned my Muay Thai black belt under master Anderson Franca. In terms of jiu-jitsu, I’ve only competed in small competitions in my city because I’m only a blue belt so far.”
So when did MMA came into your life? Was it just an extra challenge outside of Muay Thai or did you intend to make a living from it?
“MMA came up in my life around two years ago when my manager Alex Davis and I saw it as an opportunity to grow in the fighting world because I didn’t see many chances in Muay Thai in Brazil anymore as I’d won some championships. I didn’t see opportunities in Muay Thai anymore, so I moved to the USA to join The Armory in Florida with Joe Mullings and become a mixed martial artist.”
How was the transition from martial arts to MMA? Did it come naturally or did it take some time to adjust?
“I already trained a little of jiu-jitsu in Brazil but only for fun. In the States, I really began to sharpen my ground skills with great training partners like Pablo Popovitch, Eduardo Guedes, Rafael Chaves and Vagner Rocha (UFC lightweight). And now I have been adapting my stand-up game to MMA with my striking coach Mohamed Ouali and teammates Luiz Cane (UFC light heavyweight) and Marlon Moraes. Thanks to God that I have a great team in the United States with Joe Mullings. My adaption to MMA has been great and I’ve been learning with my coaches and partners and dedicating myself even more.”
