The UFC brought the always exciting Edson Barboza home to the Apex in the main event of UFC Vegas 81, taking on rising featherweight Sodiq Yusuff.
The main event billing was the first for “Super Sodiq,” who has built a solid following over the past year thanks to his humorous “Unprofessional Breakdown” series of videos. Out of action for roughly a year due to injury, Yusuff remained ranked at 145lbs, sitting at #11 in comparison to Barboza’s #13 ranking.
A win would push Yusuff into the top 10, and at least bump Barboza up a sport or two. The Brazilian was entering the fight off a win over Billy Quarantillo, another violent highlight reel finish care of a knee. Barboza’s finishes in the UFC have been many, his 13-year UFC career littered with high-light reel stoppages including his all-time great spinning wheel kick KO of Terry Etim.
Also on Saturday’s UFC Vegas 81 card, Michel Pereira, who has often struggled with the cut to welterweight (revealing he was shedding 46 pounds to make the 170lb limit), moved to middleweight. Facing him, short-notice replacement Andre Petroski, stepping in for Marc-Andre Barriault.
Following UFC Vegas 81, tune in for the post-fight press conference to stay on top of all the latest developments in Las Vegas. A live stream of the proceeding is available in the embed above.
