Edson Barboza has revealed that Kevin Lee was the physically strongest opponent of his career, recalling that Lee simply lifted him off the mat and slammed him down with raw power. By contrast, Barboza said Khabib Nurmagomedov relied on technique rather than brute strength, always staying a step ahead on the ground. Barboza also reflected on his losses to Justin Gaethje and his difficult bout with Khabib, which he undertook with only five weeks of preparation following shoulder surgery.
Edson Barboza has opened up about the physical differences between some of the toughest opponents of his career, singling out Kevin Lee as the strongest man he has ever faced inside the octagon.
The 40-year-old Brazilian, who fights out of American Top Team and carries a professional record of 24-14, described Lee as a force of raw power, recalling that Lee physically lifted him off the mat and slammed him down with sheer strength alone. It is a striking admission from a veteran lightweight who has shared the cage with some of the division's most decorated fighters.
By contrast, Barboza painted a very different picture of Khabib Nurmagomedov. Rather than overwhelming him with brute force, the undefeated Russian — whose record stands at a perfect 29-0 — controlled Barboza through technique and positional awareness, always remaining one step ahead on the ground. Khabib's grappling credentials speak for themselves, with an average of 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
Barboza also reflected on the circumstances surrounding that loss to Khabib, revealing he stepped in with only five weeks of preparation after undergoing shoulder surgery. He additionally looked back on his bouts with Justin Gaethje as among the more difficult experiences of his career.
Why it matters
- Barboza's account adds rare first-hand perspective on how Khabib's grappling felt from the receiving end — technique-driven rather than power-based
- The shoulder surgery detail recontextualizes how compromised Barboza was heading into one of his most high-profile fights
- At 40 with a 24-14 record, Barboza's retrospective comments suggest a fighter reflecting on a long and eventful career at the top of the lightweight division
