PHILADELPHIA – Edson Barboza is calling it a career.
One of the most violent strikers in lightweight history, Barboza (24-15 MMA, 18-15 UFC) lost his fourth straight fight Saturday when he was finished by Esteban Ribovics with strikes at 1:32 of Round 2. The lightweight bout took place on the UFC 330 prelims at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Ribovics (16-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) appeared to be the quicker and crisper fighter from the opening bell. Barboza showed vintage toughness, but as the fight wore on, he wore down. At the end of Round 1, Barboza stumbled and was cracked by Ribovics. The stumble was likely due to a large gash that had formed on his right shin.
In Round 2, Ribovics really took over. He tagged Barboza over and over again. Barboza wore damage on
his face as he absorbed the blows and eventually referee Herb Dean stopped the fight standing.
Esteban Ribovics stops Edson Barboza in RD 2!
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 16, 2026
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After the bout, an emotional Barboza was given his time on the microphone to a standing ovation. He wept as he gave his final in-cage interview and laid his gloves down in the cage.
Barboza, 40, turned professional in 2009. He made his UFC debut in November 2010. Over the course of the next 16 years, Barboza would fight an absolute murderer's row of opponents, including Justin Gaethje, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson, Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez, and Donald Cerrone, among others.
Perhaps Barboza's biggest highlight was a spinning wheel kick against Terry Etim in January 2012 – a knockout that will be played on reels for the rest of time.
What a career!
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 16, 2026
Edson Barboza gets a standing ovation as he lays his gloves down inside the Octagon
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Up-to-the-minute UFC 330 results include:
- Esteban Ribovics def. Edson Barboza via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:32
- Chidi Njokuani def. Joel Alvarez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Charles Johnson def. Eduardo Chapolin via submission (Scottish twister) – Round 3, 1:36
- Donte Johnson def. Eric McConico via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 1:38
- Tresean Gore def. Vicente Luque via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Lucas Fernando def. Rafael Tobias TKO (knee, punches) – Round 3, 1:10
- Neil Magny def. Ramiz Brahimaj via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 3:20
- Jeremiah Wells def. Myktybek Orolbai via technical submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 1:24
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 330 results: Edson Barboza retires after Esteban Ribovics TKO loss
