Brazilian featherweight Edson Barbosa (22-9 MMA, 16-9 UFC) believes he deserves to take on the 145-pound top five after an early win over Shane Burgos at UFC 262.
“You can see the top five guys: Calvin Kattar, Yair Rodriguez, Zabit (Magomedsharipov),‘ Korean (Zombie) ’, Max Holloway,” Edson 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. “
Edson 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. “