Edson Barboza
Active 2010–present · rated in 5 editions across 2 divisions · peak overall 84.0
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Edson Barboza at lightweight
Scouting report
Nova Friburgo, Brazil produced Muay Thai kicks that became a fixture of UFC lightweight competition. At 155 pounds from 2012 to 2018, Edson Barboza opened with a spinning wheel-kick knockout of Terry Etim, the first wheel-kick finish in UFC history, and followed it with a series of leg-kick and body-kick performances against top contenders. The lightweight Barboza carries an 88 Kickboxing as his defining attribute, with an 81 Overall reflecting the period when his cardio still matched his speed.
Peak ratings
By edition
In January 2012 at UFC 142 in Rio, Barboza knocked out Terry Etim with a spinning wheel kick in round three, after a split-decision win over Ross Pearson in August 2011. He stopped Lucas Martins in round one in January 2013 and Rafaello Oliveira with leg kicks in round two that July. His Muay Thai kicks, switch kicks, and striking explosiveness are reflected in an 94 Kickboxing and 82 Boxing rating.
In 2014 and 2015, Barboza defeated Evan Dunham, Bobby Green in Austin, and Paul Felder in a striking showcase in Chicago, while losing to Donald Cerrone by first-round submission and to Michael Johnson on a decision. His leg kicks, body strikes, and takedown defense anchor his 94 Kickboxing and 86 Cardio ratings against premier divisional contenders.
Barboza compiled a contender run between 2016 and 2017, out-striking former champion Anthony Pettis at UFC 197, defeating Gilbert Melendez in Chicago, and knocking out Beneil Dariush with a flying knee at UFC Fight Night 106 before dropping a decision to Khabib Nurmagomedov. His kicking speed and power justify his 95 Kickboxing and 84 Boxing ratings.
After a fifth-round doctor-stoppage loss to Kevin Lee in Atlantic City in April 2018, Barboza rebounded in December 2018 with a body-punch knockout of Dan Hooker at UFC on Fox 31 in Milwaukee, then lost by first-round knockout to Justin Gaethje in March 2019 and by split decision to Paul Felder that September. His kicking power and toughness are reflected in his 95 Kickboxing and 78 Durability.
Edson Barboza: the leg kicks that changed fights
Edson Barboza is a Brazilian Muay Thai striker whose spinning wheel kick knocked out Terry Etim in 2012, one of the best-remembered finishes of that year. He is famous for his kicks, especially to the legs, and he has stayed near the top of the division for a long time. Draft him when you want range control and a finisher who can end a fight from a distance.
Barboza attribute by attribute
Boxing. Solid and improving. His boxing was long viewed as a support to his kicks, but it has become a real tool.
Kickboxing. Elite. Leg kicks that visibly slowed opponents, plus spinning attacks that few fighters at 155 could copy.
Wrestling. Fine defensively. He can stuff some takedowns, but a pure wrestler could catch him.
BJJ. The weak area. He did not build his game off the mat, and opponents with BJJ could exploit that.
Strength. Strong for the weight. His legs give his kicks real damage.
Durability. Reasonable, though he has been finished in a few fights.
Cardio. Good. He can keep his pace over three rounds.
Fight IQ. Strong. He picks his kicks well and understands when to be patient.
The big draw: Kickboxing
Kickboxing is where Barboza is at his best, and it is a large edge. His leg kicks add up round after round, and when a fight does not go his way, he has a highlight kick that can change it. That makes him a good pick for a lineup with grapplers who need a striker to keep opponents on the outside.
The slot to fear: BJJ
Jiu-jitsu is at the bottom of his sheet. If a fight goes to the mat and he is stuck underneath a skilled grappler, his options are limited. Pair him with a wrestler or a submission specialist so the lineup does not fall apart on the ground.
Edson Barboza at featherweight
Scouting report
Barboza's move to featherweight is reflected in his UFC 4 (2020) card: an 83 Overall built on an 88 Kickboxing rating and 84 Cardio. The calf kicks and leg-kick offense that defined his lightweight run carried over unchanged at 145 pounds, and his win over Giga Chikadze showed the tool still worked against ranked featherweight competition.
Peak ratings
Edson Barboza in the featherweight division
Edson Barboza moved down from lightweight to compete at 145 and brought his kicks along. He was known for spinning attacks and heavy leg kicks, and at featherweight the kicks stayed the centerpiece of his game. This card is a striker who keeps opponents guessing and does not want the fight on the floor. For drafters, he is a clear specialist. One rating towers over the rest, and the card works best when you support it with something that can deal with a wrestler who tries to change the fight.
Featherweight ratings, one by one
Boxing. Very good at 84. His hands are technical and he mixes them well with kicks.
Kickboxing. His best at 94. Leg kicks, spinning heel kicks and body kicks are the core of the card.
Wrestling. Tied for his lowest at 74. He can be taken down by pressure wrestlers.
BJJ. Tied for his lowest at 74. He defends fairly well but is not a finisher on the mat.
Strength. Strong. His kicks carry real force.
Durability. Solid. He can absorb a great deal but has been stopped before.
Cardio. Good at 86. He keeps his output up across a fight.
Fight IQ. Good. He sets up his kicks with patience and reads reactions.
Spend the pick on Kickboxing
Kickboxing at 94 is the highest rating here and one of the highest in the division. If the fight stays standing, damage accumulates in his favour every round.
A shared floor: Wrestling and BJJ
Wrestling and BJJ both come in at 74. A fighter who can shoot and control him will force him out of his game, so plan around that risk.
Keep exploring
Closest lightweight profiles to Edson Barboza, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Rafael Fizievbest kickboxing 94 · weakest bjj 72
- Paul Felderbest kickboxing 88 · weakest bjj 76
- Dan Hookerbest kickboxing 90 · weakest wrestling 78
- Jalin Turnerbest boxing 88 · weakest wrestling 72
- Lightweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Featherweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Edson Barboza's strongest attribute, Kickboxing.
Draft Edson Barboza into your build
Edson Barboza enters the pool on any spin landing on lightweight or featherweight between 2010 and 2022. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are our own, built from independent research and from how Edson Barboza is regarded by the MMA community, with earlier MMA video games used only as a starting baseline for the scale. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Edson Barboza's real-world abilities. See the disclaimer below. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read how we check our write-ups in our editorial standards.