TLDR
- Edson Barboza retired from MMA in August 2026 after losing four consecutive fights
- The 40-year-old has signed with Absolute Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (ACBJJ)
- Barboza ended his 17-year professional MMA career with a record of 24-15
- He previously competed in a grappling match against UFC fighter Sharabutdin Magomedov that ended in a draw
- Barboza says he made smart financial investments during his career and is excited about his future
Sources: sherdog.com | mmamania.com
Edson Barboza has signed with Absolute Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu just two months after retiring from mixed martial arts. The Brazilian veteran announced his move to the grappling promotion less than 60 days after calling time on his 17-year MMA career.
Barboza retired in August following a second-round technical knockout loss to Esteban Ribovics at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. The defeat was his fourth consecutive loss and marked the end of his professional MMA career with a record of 24-15.
Game-changing kicks 😳
You do not want to be on the other end of an Edson Barboza kick!
[ #UFC330 | LIVE SAT AUG 15 | 9pmET on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/45kbBHakB2
— UFC (@ufc) August 13, 2026
Moving From MMA to Grappling
ACBJJ made the announcement on social media in early October. The promotion holds gi and no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments, superfights and mixed grappling events.
The 40-year-old lightweight has not yet been assigned a date or opponent for his ACBJJ debut. Information about his first match will be announced at a later time.
Barboza is not entirely new to grappling competition outside of MMA. He faced UFC middleweight Sharabutdin Magomedov under the Hype FC banner in March 2026, with their match ending in a draw.
Financial Security Allows New Career Path
When asked about his future plans, Barboza told MMA Junkie he made smart investment decisions during his fighting career. He said these choices give him freedom to pursue new opportunities.
“I did the right choices in this part of my life about investments,” Barboza said. “But I’m still 40. I’m still young and very excited about the future.”
Barboza emphasized that he has many plans ahead of him. “I have a lot of things to do in the future. Thank God I did the right choices on the financial side,” he added.
During his UFC career, Barboza spent two years competing while dealing with vision problems that he described as fighting “half blind.” Despite these challenges, he remained one of the promotion’s most popular fighters.
Barboza’s MMA career spanned nearly two decades in the sport. He competed primarily as a lightweight and became known for his striking skills throughout his time in the UFC.
The Brazilian fighter’s move to ACBJJ represents a shift from mixed martial arts to pure grappling competition. Unlike MMA, the events focus exclusively on jiu-jitsu techniques without striking.
Barboza joins other retired MMA fighters who have transitioned to grappling competitions after ending their cage careers. The grappling scene has grown in recent years with multiple promotions offering competitive opportunities.
ACBJJ will announce details about Barboza’s first match in the coming weeks or months.
