- An entertaining UFC featherweight bout between Sodiq Yusuff and Edson Barboza will headline this weekend’s fight night.
- Sodiq Yusuff is the betting favorite at -160.
- Edson Barboza is the betting underdog at +130.
For the second straight week, the UFC APEX will host another top-flight clash, where two ranked UFC featherweight contenders will headline the fight night this Saturday, Oct. 14. No. 11-ranked contender Sodiq Yusuff (13-2) faces the No. 13-ranked divisional challenger Edson Barboza (23-11) in a crucial match that can earn the winner a spot to the top 10.
Featherweight Fight Week 🔥@Super_Sodiq vs @EdsonBarbozaJR headlines #UFCVegas81 this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/rkEYG6blIf
— UFC (@ufc) October 9, 2023
The younger Yusuff comes into the match as the slight betting favorite in UFC odds at -160, while the veteran Barboza is tagged as the slight betting underdog at +130. Aside from being the higher-ranked contender, Yusuff is the favorite because of his better record, while Barboza already has 11 defeats to his tally. Additionally, their age difference of seven years is another factor, as Barboza is in the latter years of his professional career.
Sodiq Yusuff Recent Fight Results
Sodiq Yusuff was a top prospect with six wins and one loss to record before he joined the Dana White’s Contender Series Season 2, Week 6 in July 2018. His unanimous decision performance against Mike Davis was enough to earn him a UFC contract, as he made a successful debut in the Octagon by stopping Suman Mokhtarian in December 2018.
Since then, “Super” went on to win five of his next six bouts with victories over Sheymon Moraes (unanimous decision in March 2019), Gabriel Benitez (first-round TKO), Andre Fili (unanimous decision in January 2020), Alex Caceres (unanimous decision in March 2022), and Don Shainis (first-round submission in October 2022). The Nigerian fighter’s lone loss in the UFC came at the hands of Arnold Allen in April 2021 via a unanimous decision.
The action DOES NOT STOP 🔥@Super_Sodiq vs @EdsonBarbozaJR in the top spot Saturday at #UFCVegas81! pic.twitter.com/0qWPqGGgGi
— UFC (@ufc) October 9, 2023
Edson Barboza Recent Fight Results
Edson Barboza is a UFC veteran who signed with the UFC in 2010 as an undefeated fighter with a perfect record of six wins with six finishes. Since then, the Brazilian knockout artist has appeared in 28 bouts across two weight classes in featherweight and lightweight divisions. Barboza has fought top fighters in both divisions, like Donald Cerrone, Michael Johnson, Tony Ferguson, and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Unfortunately for him, he lost to them and fell short of earning a shot for a title. Some of “Junior’s” notable wins came against Anthony Njokuani, Bobby Green, Paul Felder, Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez, Beneil Dariush, Dan Hooker, and Shane Burgos. However, in his last three fights, Barboza has only won one against Billy Quarantillo, and he dropped the other two to Giga Chikadze and Bryce Mitchell.
One of the greatest knockouts in UFC HISTORY 🔥@EdsonBarbozaJR's back in action Saturday at #UFCVegas81! pic.twitter.com/Dddl8QoKjG
— UFC (@ufc) October 9, 2023
Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza: Tale of the Tape
| Sodiq Yusuff | Edson Barboza | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 30 | 37 |
| Height | 5’9” | 5’11” |
| Reach | 71 inches | 75 inches |
| Leg Reach | 40 inches | 41 inches |
| Record | 13-2 | 23-11 |
| Fighting Style | MMA | Striker |
| Finishing Rate | 50% | 65% |
Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza: Fight Analysis
On paper, Edson Barboza will have the upper hand in the physical attributes, as he is taller by 2 inches, has 4 inches of reach, an inch of leg reach advantage, and a higher percentage of finishing rate against Sodiq Yusuff. However, Yusuff is seven years younger and has a better record of 13 wins.
Both fighters are constantly engaging in an exciting striking fight because they have a fighting base of being a striker. This is evident in their method of victory, where 61% of Barboza’s wins are by way of TKO/KO, while Yusuff has a TKO/KO rate of 50%. More proof of this elite striking from the two featherweights can be seen in the significant strikes department.
“Super” has slightly better statistics with 5.29 significant strikes landed per minute (49% rate) and only 3.65 significant strikes absorbed per minute (57% rate) against “Junior’s” 4.0 significant strikes landed per minute (44%) and 4.12 significant strikes absorbed per minute (58%). The grappling numbers, though, favor the Brazilian.
Barboza has the better takedown average per 15 minutes with 0.38 (against Yusuff’s 0.18), takedown accuracy of 44% (compared to Yusuff’s 12%), and takedown defense of 75% (versus Yusuff’s 70%). The only grappling category where Yusuff is better than Barboza is the submission average per 15 minutes, as he has 0.55 compared to Barboza’s 0.10.
Despite the similarity in the fighting style of being known strikers, Yusuff and Barboza have a different in-fight approach once they are locked inside the Octagon. The Nigerian athlete packs more punches in his style of fighting, while the Brazilian fighter employs more kicks in his attacks. Both have succeeded in this approach, scoring multiple TKO/KO victories.
The key for Yusuff is to put pressure on Barboza and immediately close the distance between them to fire his patented boxing combinations. On the other hand, Barboza needs to maximize his reach and leg reach advantages to fight at a certain distance he’s comfortable with before launching his signature powerful kicks that made him a feared knockout finisher.
Official Prediction: Unanimous decision victory for Sodiq Yusuff.
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