Edson Barboza scored a brutal knockout at UFC Fight Night 106 as he nailed Beneil Dariush with a flying knee strike to the face.
Following his third straight win, there is nothing Barboza wants more than a rematch with Tony Ferguson. Ferguson was slated to take on Khabib Nurmagomedov for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 209, before Khabib was hospitalized following complications with his weight cut.
“Imagine it, guys,” he said after the event. “Me and Ferguson, five rounds? That’d be crazy, guys. Please UFC, give me a chance. I think this fight would make sense for me.”
Barboza has now won his third straight fight, with the other two wins coming over former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis and former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. If Ferguson doesn’t want to face Barboza again, a title fight would be the next best choice for Barboza.
“I think I deserve the title shot,” Barboza said. “I’ve been in the UFC for a long time. I’ve got really good wins in my last three fights. I’m ready to fight five rounds. I can’t wait, man. I’m very excited to fight five rounds. I hope the UFC gives me a chance.”
Ferguson was the last fighter to defeat Barboza and that came by way of submission at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale. However, the Brazilian striker came into that fight on short notice and without a full training camp.
