Edson Barboza has named Kevin Lee as the physically strongest opponent of his career, saying Lee was the only fighter who made him think "how strong is this guy" after being lifted and slammed. Barboza described Khabib Nurmagomedov as a technical master rather than an overpowering force, noting Khabib was always one step ahead on the mat. He also revealed he went into their fight with just five weeks of preparation following major shoulder and bicep surgery, having had no full training camp.
Edson Barboza has revealed that Kevin Lee, not Khabib Nurmagomedov, was the physically strongest opponent he ever faced, sharing the candid assessment in a recent interview.
The 40-year-old Brazilian, who fights out of American Top Team and carries a professional record of 24-14, said Lee was the only fighter who made him question just how strong his opponent was after being lifted and thrown to the canvas. Barboza, who stands five-foot-eleven with a 75-inch reach, described the moment as something unlike anything else in his career.
When discussing Khabib, Barboza drew a clear distinction. Rather than describing the undefeated Russian as a physically overwhelming force, he characterized the 29-0 lightweight legend as a technical master who was always one step ahead on the mat. Barboza also disclosed that he entered that fight severely underprepared, having undergone major shoulder and bicep surgery and managing only five weeks of preparation with no full training camp behind him.
Khabib, now 37 and retired with a flawless record, averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career and landed significant strikes at a rate of 4.1 per minute, numbers that reflect exactly the kind of grinding, methodical pressure Barboza described.
Why it matters
- Barboza's account adds rare firsthand perspective on what it felt like to compete against two of lightweight's most physically imposing grappling threats
- The surgery revelation reframes his performance against Khabib, one of MMA's most dominant fighters, in a significantly different light
- Barboza remains active in a lightweight division currently headlined by champion Justin Gaethje, keeping his commentary relevant to the present landscape
