Don’t Sleep on Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose
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The UFC heads to Chicago, Illinois, this Saturday, August 16, with a loaded UFC 319 card. In the main event, reigning and defending UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis puts his title up for grabs. He faces the enigmatic undefeated number one contender, Khamzat Chimaev.
Make sure you catch the early prelims though. Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose is guaranteed fireworks at lightweight.
Battle-Tested Lightweights Throw Down
The highly-respected fight game legend Edson Barboza (24-12-0) returns to the lightweight division. He will face fellow veteran Drakkar Klose (15-3-1) to close out the early prelims.
Barboza, 39, has not competed in the lightweight division since his split decision loss to Paul Felder in September 2019. He has stepped into the UFC octagon more than thirty times, holding a record of 18-12 over his fourteen years with the promotion. The memorable Brazilian striker is unique for scoring knockout victories with kicks to the legs, as well as knockouts to the body and head.
Throughout his career, Barboza has faced some of the biggest names in the sport, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Tony Ferguson, Donald Cerrone, and Anthony Pettis. He has earned twelve performance bonuses, making him a can’t-miss fighter. His most recent appearance was a unanimous decision loss to undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy in May 2024.
Klose, 37, enters this matchup looking to get back in the win column after suffering a first-round knockout loss to Joel Alvarez in December of last year. Before that setback, he had built an impressive four-fight win streak, with two victories coming via stoppage. He is best remembered for his chaotic lightweight war with Beneil Dariush in March 2020, where he fell short via second-round knockout.
Like his opponent, Klose is no stranger to earning performance bonuses, having received them for his stoppage wins over Joe Solecki and Brandon Jenkins. A proven competitor in the division, he now holds a 9-3 record in the UFC.
This lightweight clash has all the makings of an epic fight and potential fight of the night candidate. Both men are extremely experienced, well-tested, and aware of what excites the fans.
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