Edson Barboza didn't get the sendoff he wanted but he battled to the very end as the legendary Brazilian announced his retirement on Saturday after falling to Esteban Ribovics in the opening bout on the main card at UFC 330.
The fight ended after Ribovics just unloaded a barrage of strikes that trapped Barboza against the cage and before any more punishment was dished out, the referee stopped the fight with the end coming at 1:32 in the second round.
Afterwards, Ribovics paid homage to Barboza as one of his heroes in the sport.
"He's my idol when I started training," Ribovics said about Barboza. "He had an amazing and big career. It's an honor for me to fight with me. It's bitter … when you fight in this sport, you know one day it's going to happen.
"I want to fight with everybody close to the top 15. I know my last fight was not my best fight but I want another chance."
#ribovics #brazilian #saturday #esteban
The fight ended after Ribovics just unloaded a barrage of strikes that trapped Barboza against the cage and before any more punishment was dished out, the referee stopped the fight with the end coming at 1:32 in the second round.
Afterwards, Ribovics paid homage to Barboza as one of his heroes in the sport.
"He's my idol when I started training," Ribovics said about Barboza. "He had an amazing and big career. It's an honor for me to fight with me. It's bitter … when you fight in this sport, you know one day it's going to happen.
"I want to fight with everybody close to the top 15. I know my last fight was not my best fight but I want another chance."
#ribovics #brazilian #saturday #esteban
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