mma / News

Edson Barboza Says to Expect His Best at UFC on FOX 20

July 21, 2016 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas

Edson Barboza spoke with MMAjunkie about his fight with Gilbert Melendez at UFC on FOX 20. Some highlights are below:

On fighting: “I think one of the things that keep my heart beating is competition. I love competing. I love competing at anything. For my first muay Thai fight, I was 8. I have had 22 years of experience just going up there and brawling.”

On the changes he made to his training: “First off, what changed was a literal move. I moved to New Jersey. I used to keep going back and forth from Florida to New Jersey, then I said, ‘You know what, I think it’s going to be better for my career if I stay here.’ I moved with my wife. We’ve been here since before Pettis. I’ve been getting ready for a long time, I’ve been constantly learning in my career, and I think this made a difference for the last fight and is going to make a difference in the next one. I’m not sure if the word would be confidence, in myself, but believing that I can make it. Now I’m sure. I have that in my head now – no one can take it away. I know that I can make it and become champion. The main thing that has changed is that. Now I literally believe that I can be champion.”

On a possible fight with Rafael dos Anjos: “I wouldn’t like to fight him, of course. He’s my friend. But I haven’t stopped to think about it yet, we’ll see what the future brings. The only thing (his title win) did to me was make me very happy. He helped a lot in my fight against Anthony Pettis, because he’d fought him. He also helped a lot for the next one, since he also fought Melendez. It’s something in the future. I haven’t really stopped to think or talk about it with my trainers. My focus is 100 percent on my next fight, so I was just happy the belt was with one of my training partners.”

On his fight with Melendez: “If you look at who he lost to, he lost only to the best. He’s one of the best. That’s why I took this fight. And also because of his style. He’s a guy that goes for it, he goes to war, the kind of opponent that I like fighting. I think the fans are going to enjoy this fight. No doubt, you can expect the best Edson Barboza that ever stepped onto the octagon.”