E. Barboza at UFC Fortaleza Media Day (Photo: Laerte Viana/Super Lutas)
*By Laerte Viana, in Fortaleza (CE)
Averse to the call trash talk, the provocations before and after the fights, the lightweight Edson Barboza denied the possibility of attracting the UFC's attention with this style. The Brazilian faces Beneil Dariush this Saturday (11), at UFC Fortaleza, and believes it's time to fight for the 70 kg belt. it will come to him regardless of whether he provokes his opponents or not.
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“Honestly, I don’t think about provoking people. It's not like me. My time (to fight for the belt) will come. I don't know if it will happen now. I would never be disrespectful to another athlete, on the contrary. I admire everyone, I know how much an MMA fighter works. I would never do that, regardless of money, that's not how my parents raised me. Even more so now that I am an example for my son. I can’t ask him to be a respectful person if his father is provocative, disrespectful to others”, Edson pointed out to SUPER LUTAS.
Despite having lost to Tony Ferguson, Barboza is coming off victories over two relevant names in the division: the former UFC champion Anthony Pettis and former Strikeforce lightweight titleholder Gilbert Melendez. In case of victory over Darius, the Brazilian will ask for a fight against an opponent who is above him in the rankings – currently, Edson occupies fifth place among lightweights.
“Man, I want to fight a guy who is above me (in the rankings). I want to fight for the real belt, which would be fought between Ferguson and Khabib, which for me is the real title. I fight against anyone but the Frankie Edgar. who is my friend. I want to fight for the belt”, she said.
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