Edson Barboza has revealed that Kevin Lee, not Khabib Nurmagomedov, was the physically strongest opponent he ever faced, recalling that Lee simply lifted him off the ground and slammed him. Barboza explained that while Khabib's wrestling was technically masterful — always one step ahead — he did not hit hard, whereas Barboza never saw the punch from Justin Gaethje that finished him. Barboza also disclosed that he entered his fight with Khabib with only five weeks of preparation following major shoulder and bicep surgery, having had no full training camp.
Edson Barboza has opened up about the toughest opponents of his career, singling out Kevin Lee as the physically strongest man he ever shared the cage with — ahead of even the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Barboza, now 40 years old and carrying a 24-14 professional record, is a longtime lightweight and featherweight contender out of Brazil competing under the American Top Team banner. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 75-inch reach, he has built his reputation as one of the sport's most dangerous strikers, averaging 4.14 significant strikes landed per minute across his career. In a recent interview, Barboza recalled that Kevin Lee physically overwhelmed him in a way no other opponent had — simply lifting him clean off the ground and slamming him down. By contrast, he described Khabib's grappling as technically superior and always one step ahead, but noted that the Russian did not hit particularly hard.
Barboza also shed new light on his fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, the undefeated Russian standout who retired with a perfect 29-0 record. Barboza revealed he entered that contest having undergone major shoulder and bicep surgery beforehand, with only five weeks of preparation and no proper training camp behind him.
On his stoppage loss to Justin Gaethje — the current lightweight champion who averages a remarkable 6.48 significant strikes per minute and lands at a 58 percent accuracy rate — Barboza said he simply never saw the finishing punch coming.
Why it matters
- Barboza's account adds rare context to his loss against Khabib, reframing it around significant physical disadvantage rather than a straightforward defeat
- His assessment of Lee as the stronger wrestler over Khabib offers an unusual perspective on two of the lightweight division's most feared grapplers
- The comments highlight how undisclosed injuries and truncated training camps can shape outcomes that appear one-sided on paper
