Edson Barboza var nära en titelchans i lättvikt. Allt han behövde göra var att slå Khabib Nurmagomedov, som visade sig vara en storlek för stor för Barboza. ”The Eagle” dominerade Barboza hela matchen och krossade således den brasilianska strikens titeldrömmar.
I sin första intervju sen UFC 219 berättar Barboza för MMA Fighting om vad som gick fel.
I really didn’t expect that to happen man
I was very upset the week after the fight because I was well prepared, had a wonderful camp. It was a tough loss, no doubt about it.
It was pretty much how we imagined it
I knew he wouldn’t take me down in the middle of the Octagon. I knew that his only chance to take me down was close to the fence, so I obviously worked that a lot, but he was able to impose his game, and I couldn’t get out of there. That was the problem. I fell in his game. I spent 15 minutes doing his game.
Det enda Barboza var förvånad över var att hur snabbt Nurmagomedov stängde distansen så fort ronden startade. Vilket inte gav honom någon som helst yta att använda sina sparkar och knän.
Honestly, I didn’t expect that
He walked backwards in all of his previous fights before he went for takedowns. I was prepared for it, but I thought he would do what he always did, to avoid the striking. It surprised me that he moved forward
Alla tre domarna gav Khabib 10-8 på poängkortet i det två första ronderna, men Barboza säger att han visste att han bara behövde ett välriktat slag för att stoppa matchen.
I was aware what was happening the entire time, and I believed it until the end
Things were going wrong but I kept thinking, ´Brother, if he gives me a chance I’ll finish the fight.’ I remember everything that happened that night.
Barboza var säker på att han kunde avsluta Nurmagomedov i tredje ronden och han hade blivit arg om hörnan kastade in handduken.
If my corners had stopped the fight, I probably would have fought them all
They know me very well, they know what I can handle. I’ve trained with millions of different people, the best boxers in New Jersey and Philadelphia, and they never knocked me down. They know me, they know what I can take, and they knew I could win at any moment
Redan två veckor efter förlusten är Barboza tillbaka i gymmet och påbörjar förberedelserna inför nästa match. Han har vill dock inte kalla ut någon, det är inte hans stil, utan tar vem som helst inom topp 10, utom då sin träningspartner Eddie Alvarez.
I’m already training hard
I’m still among the best in the rankings, so I want to fight someone as close as possible to me
The dream continues. I want my chance for the belt, I want to be champion. The only way I’ll get there is by taking down these guys close to me in the ranking
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