Edson Barboza has revealed that Kevin Lee was the physically strongest opponent he ever faced, rating him above Khabib Nurmagomedov in terms of raw power. Barboza said Lee simply lifted him off the ground and slammed him, adding that Lee also defended a D'Arce choke attempt purely through physical strength. On Khabib, Barboza said the former champion won through technique rather than power, always staying one step ahead on the ground. Barboza also disclosed that he entered the Khabib fight with only five weeks of preparation, coming off major shoulder and bicep surgery with no prior training sessions.
Edson Barboza has opened up about the physical demands of two of his most memorable bouts, singling out Kevin Lee as the strongest opponent he has ever shared the cage with — ranking the former lightweight contender above even Khabib Nurmagomedov in terms of raw power.
Barboza, now 40 years old and carrying a professional record of 24-14, has spent the better part of two decades competing at the highest level of the lightweight division for American Top Team. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 75-inch reach, the Brazilian striker averages over four significant strikes per minute and remains one of the more durable veterans on the roster.
Reflecting on his clash with Kevin Lee, Barboza recalled being physically lifted off the mat and slammed, describing a kind of brute strength he had not encountered elsewhere. He added that Lee managed to survive a D'Arce choke attempt not through technical escape work but purely by muscling his way out — a detail that underscored just how imposing Lee's physical presence was.
His comments on Khabib Nurmagomedov painted a very different picture. Rather than overwhelming force, Barboza credited the undefeated Russian — 29-0, now 37 years old — with mastery of positioning and anticipation, always one step ahead on the ground. Khabib averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes during his career and consistently strangled opponents with technique rather than athleticism alone.
Perhaps the most striking disclosure was the condition in which Barboza entered that Khabib fight. He revealed he had undergone major shoulder and bicep surgery beforehand and had only five weeks to prepare, entering the bout having completed no prior training sessions.
Why it matters
- Barboza's account reframes how fighters and fans evaluate physical strength versus technical grappling at elite level
- It adds significant context to the Khabib performance, widely considered one of the more dominant lightweight showings in UFC history
- The surgery revelation raises questions about how fully Barboza was ever able to compete that night
