The main event of UFC Vegas 81 features Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza on October 14, 2023. This fight was supposed to happen at UFC Fight Night 179: Marlon Moraes vs. Cory Sandhagen in October 2020, but Yusuff pulled out due to an injury. They finally meet as the top 15 contenders at UFC Vegas 81.
Sodiq Yusuff made it to the UFC by winning a fight against Mike Davis on Dana White’s Contender Series in July 2018. He is currently ranked #11 in the featherweight division. In his very impressive last fight, he submitted Don Shainis in just 30 seconds of the first round in October 2022.
This Featherweight five-rounder 🔥🔥@Super_Sodiq vs @EdsonBarbozaJR is official to headline #UFCVegas81 on October 14th! pic.twitter.com/hYKZ2Rbe0n
— UFC (@ufc) September 6, 2023
On the other hand, there is UFC veteran Edson Barboza, ranked #13 in the division. He has been in the UFC since November 2010. Barboza had some of the most brutal knockouts in the history of the sport. Although he is older now, he recently came off a devastating knockout victory over Billy Quarantillo in April 2023.
This fight will be a tough test for Yusuff. Even at an older age, Barboza remains a very dangerous opponent for any contenders, as he demonstrated in his last fight.
Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza stats
Stats | Sodiq Yusuff | Edson Barboza |
Wins | 13 | 23 |
Losses | 2 | 11 |
Height | 5’8” | 5’10” |
Division | Featherweight | Featherweight |
Reach | 71” | 75.1” |
Age | 30 | 37 |
Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza Fight Prediction
Sodiq Yusuff, with a record of 13 wins and 2 losses, is mostly a striker. He has 6 wins out of 13 via KO/TKO. Still, he is known for his striking, with 49% striking accuracy, and can significantly land 5.29 per minute with a 70% takedown defense.
Edson Barboza is an amazing striker with a 44% striking accuracy and can land a significant strike of 4, and his kicking game is one of the best in the sport. He has delivered some of the most devastating knockouts by leg kicks as he got 14 wins out of 23 via KO/TKO and has a takedown accuracy of 44% along with 76% takedown defense.
🇳🇬 Sodiq Yusuff vs Edson Barboza 🇧🇷
Featherweights this Saturday at #UFCVegas81! pic.twitter.com/uSi9YjYpIm
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) October 9, 2023
It’s a fight between a rising star and a veteran of the sport. This is expected to be a back-and-forth striking battle. Yusuff’s striking accuracy is a bit higher than Barboza’s. So, it will probably be a very close fight, with both guys hurting each other with powerful strikes.
Just because of the fact that Barboza is a bit older and has a 3-2 record in his last fight, his chances do seem a bit slim. So in this match, Sodiq Yusuff wins against Edson Barboza via a Split Decision.