Edson Barboza has been with the UFC for nearly a decade, but his next fight with the promotion could be his last.
The fighter recently revealed that he’ll be exploring free agency after his next fight.
“I have one more fight on my contract and I plan on doing this fight, and we’ll think about what we’ll do next after the contract is completed,” Barboza said to MMA Fighting. “I’m in the UFC for 10 years, I love fighting in the UFC, and everything I have today I’ve undoubtedly conquered with the UFC so I love being there, but I’m open to offers — after this fight, of course. The same way I’m anxious to my next fight, I’m also anxious to knowing what my next steps will be after the fight. I honestly don’t know really well what will happen, but I’ll wait for after this fight first and then see what my decisions are.”
Barboza currently holds a 15-9-0 record in the UFC and is ranked #14 in the featherweight division. While his next fight hasn’t been announced at this time, there are a few opponents that Barboza has in mind for that bout.
“Ortega will probably fight for the belt now,” Barboza said. “‘The Korean Zombie’ is coming off a loss to Ortega but he’s a great athlete. Kattar is No. 6 and is coming off wins, good fights, and that would be a great fight on the feet. Holloway is the No. 1, I don’t know if they would offer me that but it’s a great matchup, no doubt. It would be a great fight. Zabit, we trained together in the past, he’s a great fighter, a nice guy. We’re not that close but no doubt, with the utmost respect to him and that entire team, I’d take this fight. Like I said, anyone in the top-6, I’m in.”
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