Last time out, Edson Barboza had secured his first win as a UFC featherweight. At Saturday’s UFC 262, kicking off the PPV portion of the card, he was looking for a second.
Standing opposite him, another top 145lb’er in Shane Burgos. “Hurricane” Burgos was looking to bounce back from a loss to Josh Emmett, one that had derailed a three-fight win streak.
On paper, the pairing had a Fight of the Night feel to it, quite frankly.
Barboza opened the with a leg kick, and followed up with several more, quickly doing some damage. The Brazilian then went to the body, and threw out several more kicks, lightning fast. Burgos answered back with his hands, but he was eating too many low kicks and jabs. A spinning back kick by Barboza ended in a brief clinch, but the action really heated up later in the round. Barboza, taking some heavy swings, landed several counters that hurt Burgos. Those, mixed in with increasingly nasty leg kicks, were doing a real number. Burgos managed to back Barboza up to the cage, earning a reprieve, but through the first round, it was Barboza with the edge — and the fight most certainly lived up to the hype.
Burgos opened the second round pushing the pace, walking forward. Of course, that meant walking into Barboza’s kicks. Burgos was not deterred, continuing to march forward dutifully, landing a body shot. Barboza, meanwhile, had hurt his shin on a kick from Burgos and was bleeding. Barboza’s movement was clearly hampered, but he was still able to throw the odd kick. Including a spinning kick that landed, answered with a left hook from Burgos. The pair continued to trade throughout the round, with both men landed multiple significant strikes in a very close round.
Round three would prove critical, with a possible 19-19 score heading in. Burgos fired in inside kick in the opening minute, with Barboza returning fire. It wasn’t a kick but a right hook that finished the fight, however. Barboza hit home with the hook, following up a jab, which resulted in a delayed reaction from Burgos, who ate the blow, then stumbled back and crashed to the canvas. Goodnight, Shane Burgos.
SHUT 👏 IT 👏 DOWN 👏
🇧🇷 @EdsonBarbozaJR just took care of business. #UFC262 pic.twitter.com/T2CzwvcdyR
— UFC (@ufc) May 16, 2021
Official Result: Edson Barboza def. Shane Burgos by TKO, Round 3, 1:16
