Edson Barboza has been within the tussle recreation for an extended moment and he has a quantity of tussle left in him. Barboza survived an early onslaught in Las Vegas on Saturday to conquer a hungry contender in Sodiq Yusuff within the UFC Battle Night time major match.

Saturday’s headliner were given off to a rocky get started for Barboza. Yusuff badly wobbled his opponent within the first change and many times shocked him with aggregate boxing. A end appeared impending, however a takedown through Yusuff slowed the tussle and gave Barboza the moment he had to get better. Two judges scored the spherical 10-8 for Yusuff.

“I was really dizzy. I didn’t know if I was in the gym or the house or playing with the kids,” Barboza mentioned throughout his post-fight interview. “I didn’t know what the f— was going on.”

Barboza discovered his bedrock in Spherical 2 and in large part closed the aggressive hole. Spherical 3 delivered every other shocker as Barboza landed one among his signature spinning wheel kicks. The hit extraordinarily shocked Yusuff, however Barboza didn’t capitalize, making an attempt a D’arce choke that killed the clock. The judges sided with Barboza within the after two rounds, for the purpose of scorecards studying 48-46, 48-46 and 49-46 for the veteran.

Barboza, 37, applauded Yusuff, 30, for appearing the similar degree of grit in Spherical 3 that Barboza had within the opening body.

“He’s one of the best in the world,” Barboza mentioned. “He never gave up like me in the first round.”

Yusuff used to be deeply upset in his efficiency however fondly mirrored on how he idolized Barboza.

“I think I could have picked my shots better in the first round to get him out of there,” Yusuff mentioned. “I used to watch Edson as a kid. To put on what I believe is a Fight of the Night, it’s OK.”

Barboza stepped forward to 24-11 in his MMA profession and has consecutive wins beneath his belt. Yusuff dropped to 13-3 professionally and is 6-2 general within the UFC.