Edson Barboza 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 despite Barboza believing he could not be taken down. Barboza said Khabib won through superior technique rather than raw strength, always staying a step ahead on the mat. He also discussed his loss to Justin Gaethee, explaining he failed to follow the game plan by drifting left into an overhand right he never saw coming.
Edson Barboza has named Kevin Lee, not Khabib Nurmagomedov, as the most physically powerful opponent of his career, offering candid reflections on several key moments from his time in the UFC.
Barboza, now 40 years old, holds a professional record of 24-14 and has competed at featherweight and lightweight throughout a long career with American Top Team. The Brazilian stands five-foot-eleven with a 75-inch reach and has always been regarded as one of the division's most dangerous strikers, averaging 4.14 significant strikes per minute over his career.
Speaking about his bout with Kevin Lee, Barboza admitted he entered the fight convinced he could not be taken down — a belief Lee quickly dismantled. Lee, 33, carries a record of 18-8 and trains out of Tristar Gym. Despite standing only five-foot-nine, he possesses a remarkable 77-inch reach and averages 3.18 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a persistent and physically imposing wrestler. Barboza recalled that Lee simply lifted him off the ground and slammed him, something he had not anticipated from any opponent.
On the subject of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Barboza drew a clear distinction. The undefeated Russian, now 37 and retired at 29-0, averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes during his career and is widely regarded as the greatest grappler the lightweight division has ever seen. Barboza acknowledged that Khabib's dominance came not from brute strength but from technical mastery, describing him as always being one step ahead on the mat.
Barboza also revisited his stoppage loss to Justin Gaethje, accepting personal responsibility for the defeat. He explained that he abandoned the game plan by drifting to his left, walking directly into an overhand right he never saw coming.
Why it matters
- Barboza's account adds rare first-hand perspective on what made Khabib and Kevin Lee so difficult to face at close quarters
- The distinction between Lee's raw strength and Khabib's technical wrestling offers insight into two very different elite grappling styles
- Barboza's honest breakdown of the Gaethje loss highlights how tactical errors at the highest level carry immediate consequences
