Edson Barboza revealed that Kevin Lee, not Khabib Nurmagomedov, was the physically strongest opponent he ever faced, saying Lee simply lifted him off the ground and slammed him. Barboza described Khabib as a technical master who was always one step ahead, while noting he feared submissions rather than strikes from him. He also reflected on his loss to Justin Gaethje, saying he failed to execute the game plan by drifting left into Gaethje's overhand right, and that he never saw the finishing shot coming.
Edson Barboza has opened up on some of the toughest challenges of his career, singling out Kevin Lee as the physically strongest opponent he ever shared the cage with — a distinction that might surprise fans who would have expected Khabib Nurmagomedov to hold that title.
Barboza, now 40 years old and carrying a professional record of 24 wins and 14 losses, is a longtime lightweight contender out of American Top Team. The Brazilian stands five-foot-eleven with a 75-inch reach and has averaged 4.14 significant strikes landed per minute across his career, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous strikers the division has ever seen.
Speaking in a recent interview, Barboza recalled that Lee simply picked him up off the ground and slammed him, describing the raw power as something he had not experienced from anyone else. By contrast, he painted Khabib Nurmagomedov in a very different light. The undefeated Russian, who retired at 29-0, was described not as an overwhelming physical force but as a tactical genius who was always one step ahead. Barboza also admitted that heading into that fight it was submissions, not strikes, that he feared most from Khabib — a fighter who averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes during his career.
Barboza also reflected on his stoppage loss to current lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. He acknowledged a clear tactical error, explaining that he repeatedly drifted to his left and walked directly into Gaethje's overhand right. He said he never saw the finishing shot coming. Gaethje, who lands 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 58 percent, is among the most prolific finishers in lightweight history.
Why it matters
- Barboza's assessment adds rare fighter-perspective detail to how Khabib's dominance actually felt from the other side of the cage
- His breakdown of the Gaethje loss illustrates how a single positional habit can decide a high-level fight
- The comments keep Barboza's storied lightweight legacy in the conversation as the division continues to evolve around Gaethje's championship reign
