Edson Barboza has revealed that Kevin Lee, not Khabib Nurmagomedov, was the physically strongest opponent he ever faced. Barboza said Lee simply lifted him off the ground and slammed him, while Khabib relied on superior technique rather than raw strength to control him on the mat. Barboza also reflected on his loss to Justin Gaethie, saying he failed to execute his game plan by moving into Gaethie's right overhand at the fence.
Edson Barboza has offered a candid look back at some of the toughest moments of his career, singling out Kevin Lee as the physically strongest man he has ever shared the cage with — ranking him above the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov in that department.
Barboza, now 40 years old, carries a 24-14 professional record and has spent the bulk of his career as one of lightweight's most dangerous strikers. The Brazilian, who trains out of American Top Team, stands five-foot-eleven with a 75-inch reach and lands 4.14 significant strikes per minute. Despite his offensive output, his career has included some revealing lessons on the ground. Speaking recently, Barboza described Lee as a fighter who could simply pick him up off the mat and slam him down, calling it a demonstration of raw, overwhelming physical power.
By contrast, Barboza explained that Khabib Nurmagomedov controlled him through technique rather than brute force. Khabib, who retired undefeated at 29-0, built his career on one of the most suffocating grappling systems in MMA history, averaging 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes. Barboza's reflection suggests that it was Khabib's precision and craft, not sheer strength, that made him so difficult to escape.
Barboza also addressed his defeat to current lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, acknowledging a tactical failure on his own part. He said he did not stick to his game plan and walked into Gaethje's right overhand while backed against the fence. Gaethje, now 37 and holding a 28-5 record, is among the most accurate strikers in the division, connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes and landing 6.48 per minute — numbers that punish even the slightest tactical lapse.
Why it matters
- Barboza's comments add rare personal context to two of lightweight's most studied rivalries
- His distinction between Lee's strength and Khabib's technique highlights how differently elite grapplers can dominate the same opponent
- The Gaethje reflection underlines how fence positioning remains a decisive factor in the lightweight division
