Edson Barboza has revealed that Kevin Lee, not Khabib Nurmagomedov, was the physically strongest opponent he ever faced. Barboza said Lee simply lifted him into the air and slammed him down, while Khabib relied more on technical precision — always staying a step ahead on the mat rather than overwhelming with raw strength. Barboza also disclosed that he entered his fight with Khabib with virtually no preparation, having undergone major shoulder and biceps surgery following his bout with Dariusz and having just five weeks to train.
Edson Barboza has opened up about the physical demands of his past opponents, singling out Kevin Lee as the strongest man he has ever shared the cage with — a claim that places Lee above even the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov in terms of raw power.
Barboza, now 40 years old and fighting out of American Top Team, holds a professional record of 24-14. The Brazilian lightweight has faced some of the sport's elite throughout his career, making his assessment of Lee all the more striking. Barboza described Lee as a fighter who could simply pick him up and throw him to the canvas, a display of brute physical force that left a lasting impression.
By contrast, Barboza characterized Khabib Nurmagomedov differently. Rather than relying on sheer strength, the undefeated Russian — who retired with a flawless 29-0 record — controlled opponents through technical precision and mat intelligence, always positioning himself a step ahead rather than overpowering with muscle. Khabib averaged an exceptional 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career, numbers that reflect the systematic, calculated nature Barboza described.
Barboza also shed light on the circumstances surrounding his fight with Khabib, revealing he entered the bout severely underprepared. He had undergone major shoulder and biceps surgery following his previous fight with Dariusz and had only five weeks of training camp before stepping in against one of the most dominant champions the lightweight division has ever seen.
Why it matters
- Barboza's account adds rare firsthand perspective on what it was like to compete against Khabib at close quarters
- The disclosure of a compromised training camp reframes how that performance should be evaluated historically
- Lee's standing as a physical force is reinforced by testimony from a veteran with 38 professional bouts of experience
