Edson Barboza: Kevin Lee Was Physically Stronger Than Khabib

Edson Barboza has opened up about the toughest opponents of his career, singling out Kevin Lee as the physically strongest man he ever shared a cage with — a distinction that places Lee above the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov in that particular category.

The 40-year-old Brazilian veteran, who competes out of American Top Team and carries a professional record of 24-14, made clear that his reasoning draws an important distinction between strength and skill. Khabib, he explained, dominated him through technique and mental sharpness on the mat rather than brute force, always appearing one step ahead in the grappling exchanges. Nurmagomedov, now retired at 29-0, averaged an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career — a figure that speaks to the relentless, systematic nature of his wrestling. Lee, by contrast, simply overpowered Barboza with raw physical strength in a way that felt categorically different.

Barboza also reflected on his losses to Justin Gaethje and offered context around his bout with Khabib, revealing that a bicep injury left him with only five weeks of preparation heading into that fight. Given the level of opposition, the condensed camp would have been a significant disadvantage for any fighter.

Gaethje, the current lightweight champion at 37 years old, is among the most relentless pressure fighters in the division, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that help explain why that matchup proved difficult for Barboza.

Why it matters

• Barboza's comments reframe how fans understand Khabib's dominance — positioning it as technical mastery rather than physical supremacy
• The bicep injury revelation adds important context to one of the most one-sided bouts of Barboza's career
• At 40 with a 24-14 record, Barboza's reflective tone suggests a fighter taking stock of a long and eventful career at lightweight