Esteban Ribovics sent Edson Barboza into retirement tonight at UFC 330 with a 2nd round TKO loss.
Round One
Right hand from Ribovics to start. Body kick from him and a counter punch in response from Barboza.
Leg kicks for Ribovics as he applies early pressure. Barboza rips to the body, kick from Barboza.
Ribovics is just marching down Barboza here and has already opened up a cut to the right eye of Barboza.
Ribovics punches into the clinch but they soon separate. Right hand for Ribovics. He unloads a combination and Barboza lands too.
Body kick for Barboza. Now a left hook. Ribovics still pressing forward unfazed. Jab for Ribovics. He misses on a head kick attempt.
Body kick from Barboza. Right hands from Ribovics and then a left. Knee upstairs for Ribovics and a punch behind it.
Another missed head kick attempt from Ribovics. He presses forward with a flurry of strikes. Body kick from Barboza.
Jab for Ribovics. Barboza looks troubled here. Knee from Ribovics. Low kick for Barboza. He lands another. Now one to the inside of the calf. Ribovics grins and then lands a right hand and a low kick.
Barboza with a step-in punch. Ribovics lands and Barboza staggers backwards onto the canvas. He’s able to survive to the end of the round soon afterwards, but it then becomes apparent that he has a nasty cut to his shin as well as all the other damage he’s taken so far.
Round Two
Ribovics with a calf kick. Now left and right hooks. Jab from Barboza. Ribovics swings for the fences but misses the target.
Barboza chants come from the crowd as they try to urge him on under tough circumstances. He tries to throw a kick but looks uncertain with it.
Ribovics blasts him with a strike and then a barrage of blows to the body.
Ribovics with another barrage of blows as the already beaten up Barboza leans up against the cage, and thankfully the ref decides that’s enough and waves off the fight, handing Ribovics a dominant TKO victory at 1.32mins of the second round.
The 40-year-old Barboza leaves his gloves in the Octagon afterwards, signalling the end of his almost 16-year run in the UFC that will see him retire with an overall career record of 24-14.
