Edson Barboza is set to take on Bryce Mitchell in a featherweight contest on the main card of UFC 272. The fight has largely been considered a grappler vs striker affair with Barboza currently the betting underdog.
The Brazilian striker is not worried about the disrespect heading into UFC 272. Edson Barboza believes he has proven himself throughout his career and doesn't have to justify anything.
“I don’t need to prove nothing for nobody anymore,” Barboza told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 272 media day including MMAJunkie. “I was in the UFC for a long time. Bro, I fought against everybody or whoever the UFC gave me – I fought. I always make weight. I always do everything right, and I don’t need to prove nothing. It’s one more fight. I want to get my ‘W.’ I want to give my best like always, and that’s it.”
Edson Barboza thinks highly of Bryce Mitchell as a fighter heading into UFC 272 and he's ready to give him the stiffest test of his career so far. The Brazilian is grateful that he's still fighting high-level talent.
“He’s a great fighter. He’s undefeated,” Barboza said of Mitchell. “He’s young, hungry. It’s motivating me a lot because like I said, I was in the UFC for a long, long time and still have an opportunity to fight against the best guys in the world – and that’s making me very, very happy.”
The fight is currently set to be the third bout on the pay-per-view main card of UFC 272. The winner will find themselves in an excellent spot at featherweight.