TLDR
- Edson Barboza retired at age 40 after losing to Esteban Ribovics by second-round TKO at UFC 330 in Philadelphia
- Barboza suffered a split shin in the first round but chose to continue fighting before referee Herb Dean stopped the bout
- The loss was Barboza’s fourth consecutive defeat and drops his UFC record to 18-15 over a 16-year career
- Barboza fought top competition throughout his career including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, and Tony Ferguson
- His spinning wheel kick knockout of Terry Etim in 2012 remains one of the most famous finishes in UFC history
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com | forbes.com | cagesidepress.com
Edson Barboza’s 16-year UFC career came to an end Saturday night in Philadelphia after Esteban Ribovics stopped him in the second round at UFC 330. The 40-year-old Brazilian laid his gloves down in the cage following the defeat, his fourth straight loss.
Ribovics finished the lightweight bout at 1:32 of the second round with strikes. Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight as Barboza absorbed repeated punches while backed against the fence.
The fight was competitive in the opening round, with both men landing heavy strikes. Ribovics appeared faster and more precise with his punches, while Barboza mixed in his signature kicks.
By the end of the first round, Barboza had sustained a large gash on his right shin that was bleeding heavily. The injury appeared to cause him to stumble as Ribovics landed a hard shot to end the round.
Barboza Fights Through Injury
Despite the split shin and damage to his eye, Barboza chose to continue into the second round. Ribovics came out aggressively, landing punches and elbows to the body and head.
Edson Barboza explains why he decided to retire:
"My body is not the same. I can't compete at the highest level anymore"
📺 @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/ywPHCrN85Z
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 16, 2026
Barboza tried to fire back with kicks from his injured leg but didn’t have his usual power. Ribovics pressed forward and trapped him against the cage, where he landed a series of strikes that prompted Dean to wave off the fight.
The Philadelphia crowd gave Barboza a standing ovation as he received the microphone for his final in-cage interview. The emotional fighter wiped away tears as he addressed the fans.
“Every single fight I promise, I did my best,” Barboza told Joe Rogan. “Thank you, thank you so much.”
A Career Against Elite Competition
Barboza turned professional in 2009 and made his UFC debut in November 2010. Over his career, he compiled a record of 24-15, including 18-15 inside the UFC.
He faced some of the sport’s toughest competitors during his run. His opponents included Justin Gaethje, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson, Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez, and Donald Cerrero.
Barboza competed in both the lightweight and featherweight divisions. His last victory came against Sodiq Yusuff in October 2023.
His most famous moment came in January 2012 when he knocked out Terry Etim with a spinning wheel kick. The knockout remains one of the most replayed finishes in UFC history.
Ribovics improved his record to 16-3 overall and 5-3 in the UFC with the victory. He called it an “honor to fight with him” during his post-fight interview.
Barboza joins several other fighters who have retired in 2026, including Cub Swanson, Gilbert Burns, Colby Covington, and Darren Elkins. Court McGee has announced UFC 332 on October 3 as his retirement fight.
The bout took place on the UFC 330 main card at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The event was headlined by Islam Makhachev versus Ian Machado Garry.
