KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 26: A detail shot of the gloves of Anthony Smith after his final fight in the UFC after being defeated by Zhang Mingyang of China in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at T-Mobile Center on April 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLCEdson Barboza called it a career in Philadelphia on the main card of UFC 330. Esteban Ribovics proved to be too much for the Brazilian legend, battering him to a TKO loss and into retirement. Let's talk UFC.
Edson Barboza vs. Esteban Ribovics Key Facts
- Winner: Esteban Ribovics
- Retiring:Edson Barboza
- Official result: TKO, Round 2, 1:32
- Event:UFC 330, Makhachev vs. Machado Garry
- Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
- Venue: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Card position: Main card
- Barboza's age: 40
- Professional record entering: 24-14
- Last win: Sodiq Yusuff, October 14, 2023
Ribovics finished it at 1:32 of the second round, and Barboza split his shin in the first and kept going. His last win came against Sodiq Yusuff in October 2023, and this loss makes four in a row. He told Joe Rogan afterward, "Every single fight I promise, I did my best," then laid his gloves down on the main card he had fought his way onto.
The end came as it does for many once-great fighters. Barboza, 40, has lost four straight and hasn't won since October 2023. What's worse, he has lost by stoppage in the last two fights and taken tons of damage. Once known for his fierce striking, power leg kicks, wheel kicks and punches. Unfortunately, he has been reduced to a shadow of the fighter who once made his mark in the featherweight and lightweight divisions.
It's been an era of retirements as several fighters have announced an end to their careers in 2026. Perhaps there are more to come. It's especially interesting timing as we're seeing another season of Dana White's Contender Series inject new blood into the roster.
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- UFC 331 Has 10 Fights and It Looks a Lot Better Than UFC 330
MMA Retirements in 2026
- Cub Swanson: retired in the Octagon after a TKO win over Nate Landwehr at UFC 327, April
- Gilbert Burns: retired after a TKO loss to Mike Malott at UFC Winnipeg, April
- Ronda Rousey: final MMA fight at MVP MMA 1, May
- Colby Covington: retired from the UFC, May
- Hailey Cowan: retired at 34 after a body-shot KO at UFC Belgrade, August
- Darren Elkins: retired after a 35-second TKO loss at UFC Vegas 120, August
- Court McGee: announced UFC 332 on October 3 as his retirement fight, August
- Edson Barboza: retired in the Octagon at UFC 330, August
This article was originally published on Forbes.com