Edson Barboza booked vs Klose, returns to lightweight

Edson Barboza is set to move back up to the lightweight division, with UFC officials announcing a matchup against fellow veteran Drakkar Klose at UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16. The booking marks Barboza’s first fight at 155 pounds after an extended run at featherweight, signaling a strategic career shift late in his UFC tenure. The bout pits two experienced contenders in a high-profile spot on a major summer card. This return to lightweight could reshape Barboza’s trajectory in a division where he first made his name.