Kansas City — UFC Kansas City co-headliner Billy Quarantillo knows it’s cliche to say, but his fight with Edson Barboza this Saturday is the biggest of his career.
Quarantillo (17-4) is booked in a hotly anticipated featherweight match-up with the dangerous Brazilian, and is hip to what a win could bring him.
“This is easily the toughest opponent I’ve ever fought, this is the biggest fight of my career. This fight has the potential to do the most for my career, get me to that next level, get me even bigger names down the road, that top 15 ranking,” Quarantillo told media outlets including Cageside Press during Wednesday’s UFC Kansas City media day. “So obviously I’m super excited about this one.”
Quarantillo called out Barboza following his last fight, after the name was suggested while speaking with the media. “Next thing you know, here we are. I’m fighting him co-main event, UFC, big card, Kansas City. On a Max Holloway card, who I’ve been following my whoe career. It’s a huge opportunity, and I’m going to make the most of it.”
Barboza is known for devastating kicks, and holds one of the UFC’s all-time greatest knockouts, back when he landed a spinning wheel kick on Terry Etim. Lightweight Justin Gaethje recently admitted Barboza was the only opponent he felt intimidated by — a sentiment Quarantillo understands.
“It’s definitely intimidating watching his highlight reel, and it’s a highlight reel I’ve watched as a fan,” Quarantillo admitted. That having been said, however, a fight is a fight it seems.
“I don’t know if there’s any extra nervousness, it’s a UFC fight, it’s a huge fight for me. It’s all kind of the same. No matter who I’m stepping in there with, there’s always going to be some nerves, there’s going to be some excitement, and there’s obviously a huge risk— but even a bigger risk going against Edson.”
A win over the Brazilian, as “Billy Q” previously noted, could do wonders for his career. “I think it’s going to put my name up there, more mainstream, with a lot more casual fans,” he stated. A win in the UFC Kansas City co-main event, “it puts me into that next level of UFC fighter, where I always joke, there’s like that row of UFC fighters, where they go by the row and it’s like ‘I know this guy, this guy, this guy.’ Hopefully I get invited to that row after this fight, and that’s where it puts me.”
Watch the full UFC Kansas City media day appearance by Billy Quarantillo above.
