Kansas City — The “King of the Co-Main Event” Edson Barboza is hoping that, following a win over Billy Quarantillo, it’s an opponent ranked ahead of him next time out.
Barboza (23-11), who gave himself the rather fitting nickname in the lead-up to UFC Kansas City over the weekend, flattened Quarantillo with a perfectly timed knee just past the midway point of the opening round.
Afterwards, the Brazilian featherweight didn’t have any particular name in mind — just a goal: fight someone up in the rankings. “Like I said, I’ll fight against anybody, anywhere. I say yes for everybody. Especially if you want to fight me, I want to fight you,” Barboza told media outlets including Cageside Press. “I’ll fight anybody, anywhere. Just, I hope the UFC gives me a chance to fight somebody in front of me in the rankings.”
Again, there were no names. Simply, “anybody in front of me in the rankings, I’m ready.”
As to jumping back into the main event scene — Barboza has headlined three cards previously — Barboza sounded game for the extra rounds.
“Maybe? Why not. If you guys look at, I think I’m the King of the Co-Main event. Nobody in UFC has more co-main events than me. I think my last five, six fights, all main event or co-main event. Why not? I’m ready, man. I love my job, if I have the opportunity to do my job for 25 minutes, love that.”
Despite entering UFC Kansas City off two losses, Barboza didn’t feel like his back was against the wall.
“To be honest I don’t feel any pressure. I feel great, bro. I feel great.”
Returning from injury, however, Barboza admitted that the time away had been tough.
“It’s a long one year for me. Super hard,” the Brazilian stated. “But yeah, I come back at the right time with a beautiful knockout. I’m very, very, very happy.”
Watch the full UFC Kansas City post-fight press conference with Edson Barboza above.
