Edson Barboza Ready For ’25 Minutes Of Pain’ Against Justin Gaethje

Edson Barboza is ready and willing to go the full 25 minutes with Justin Gaethje this Saturday night in the main event of UFC Philadelphia.

The level of violence that both Barboza and Gaethje bring to the Octagon has been well documented. Both men have some of the best leg kicks in the game next to Jose Aldo. While some fighters shy away from talking about the violent reality of the sport, Barboza does not.

“A lot of guys don’t talk about that,” Barboza said (via MMAFighting). “Because I come from Muay Thai. Everybody tried to finish me with a leg kick, but nobody finished me yet with a leg kick. You can say whatever you want.”

“I have two finishes in the UFC with leg kicks. He doesn’t have any finishes in the UFC with the leg kicks. It’s different. You see my style and his style, it’s very different. His leg kicks work well too, he’s a great fighter, but definitely, I don’t have only the leg kicks. I have finishes with body kicks, I have finishes with high kicks. I’m definitely the best kicker in the game.”

Fan Of ‘The Highlight’

Barboza is definitely one of “OGs” in the leg kick game. He and Gaethje don’t have dissimilar styles. The major difference is Gaethje wants to get inside and land the big overhand punch, while Barboza has a much more versatile attack.

Regardless, Barboza is a fan.

“He’s a fun guy to watch,” Barboza said. “People like him. And me too, I’m a big fan of [his] fights. I love to watch his fights. It’s going to be a fun night for us. … He has a lot of heart. He’s a true fighter. He walks forward, he goes to bang. That makes me very excited because this fight’s going to be a big war.”

Gaethje has been criticized for his straight forward, throw caution to the wind, style of fighting. That has led to some of the most memorable exchanges in recent years.

Barboza plans on seeing that same fighter in Philadelphia, although he points out, he is a much different fighter, particularly these last couple fights.

“I feel very comfortable that I’m a different Edson Barboza the last couple of fights,” Barboza said. “You guys have seen [my] last fight against a guy who puts pressure on everybody? Dan Hooker, he puts pressure on everybody, but I stopped that guy.

“I don’t worry about the damage,” added Barboza. “If I thought about the damage, I’d go to be a doctor or, I don’t know, do something different. I’m a fighter. This is my whole life. I’ve [been taking] damage my whole life. I’m a Muay Thai fighter. I think I’ve had close to 1,000 stitches in my face. I’m definitely not worried about the damage. A couple years ago I remember I had my fights against Tony Ferguson and Paul Felder, [they were in conversations for] fights of the year. I have them too. That makes me very excited.”

“I’m ready for pain, 25 minutes.”