Edson Barboza moves into the Final Eight for ESPN’s 2012 ESPY Awards
Edson Barboza (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is one of eight finalists in the 2012 ESPY Awards. An ESPY Award (short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award) is an accolade presented by ESPN to recognize outstanding individual and team athletic achievement. Barboza has been nominated for his wheelhouse kick knock out of Terry Etim at UFC 142 in Brazil this past January.
To say Barboza is elated would be the understatement of the year. His kick earned him a pair of bonuses for both “Knockout of the Night” and “Fight of the Night.” Upon hearing he was one of the Final 8, the Brazilian fighter stated: “I didn’t realize that it could win play of the year, but I am so happy for that. I want to thank all of my fans for voting for me and I want to thank God that I am one of the eight finalists. Thank you all for your support.”
Edson is not the only MMA nominee this year. UFC champions Anderson Silva and Jon Jones are nominated in the category of “Best Fighter” against boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Andre Ward. Although an MMA fighter has never won that category since its inception. In the past, fighters such as Georges St-Pierre, Lyoto Machida, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Randy Couture have been nominated for an ESPY.
Barboza knows the significance of this award and what it means to all of MMA: “This is a nomination not only for me, but for all of MMA. Thank you all.”
Barboza is now going up against Winter X Games’ Heath Frisby, who in January landed the first snowmobile front flip ever seen in the X Games during the “Best Trick” competition in Aspen, Colorado.
The current round of 8 nominees for “Best Play” are as follows:
1. Jerome Simpson (NFL) vs. 8. Christian Watford (NCAA basketball)
2. Arkansas football (NCAA) vs. 7. Ben Revere (MLB)
5. Mario Manningham (NFL) vs. 13. Derek Salberg (college baseball)
11. Heath Frisby (Winter X Games) vs. 14. Edson Barboza (UFC)
Fans can vote for Barboza and the sport of MMA in general by visiting the ESPYS voting website here.
