MMA Preview – Shane Burgos vs Edson Barboza at UFC 262
SHANE BURGOS VS EDSON BARBOZA FACTS
When is UFC 262? Sunday 16th May, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 262? Toyota Center, Houston, Texas (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 262? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 261
What channel is UFC 262 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 262? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
SHANE BURGOS VS EDSON BARBOZA LOWDOWN
We only saw Shane Burgos (13-2) once last year and that was a unanimous decision loss to Josh Emmett which snapped an impressive three-fight win streak. He submitted Kurt Holobaugh in 2018, scraped past Cub Swanson with a split decision in 2019 and then TKO’d Makwan Amirkhani six months later and if he rediscovers that form this weekend, he will catapult himself towards the top five rankings.
Edson Barboza (21-9) has performed at an elite level for a decade now and has inevitably ran into lightweight monsters including the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kevin Lee, Justin Gaethje and Paul Felder so his record has taken a beating. After that rematch and split decision with Felder which he arguably won, he decided to shred more meat off the bones and try his hand down at featherweight. He was welcomed to the division by Dan Ige, but he was robbed in a split decision. On a controversial three-fight skid, Barboza bounced back with a classy unanimous decision over Amirkhani.
SHANE BURGOS VS EDSON BARBOZA PREDICTION
This is a mouth-watering match-up and the perfect way to kick off the main card and we can expect a violent battle on the feet. Barboza will bring his standard explosive self with the slickest and most dangerous kicking game in the division and Burgos will bring his incredibly tough, forward pressure and technical boxing.
It is going to create one hell of a scrap and they match up identically physically. Barboza has the power advantage but Burgos’ endurance and durability will keep him in the fight until the bell.
Barboza’s technique, speed and power should enable him to have more of an efficient output and land more damaging blows. If his weight cut goes smoothly, he may have the explosiveness to land the knockout, but Burgos’ is expected to eat whatever is served up but falling short in a decision.
Prediction: Barboza via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
