Edson Barboza Retires from MMA, Signs with ACBJJ

Edson Barboza has signed with the Absolute Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, continuing his combat sports career two months after retiring from mixed martial arts.

Barboza (24-15) announced his MMA retirement in August following a fourth straight loss, a second-round TKO defeat to Esteban Ribovics at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. That result closed out a 17-year professional MMA career that ran through the WEC and UFC and included some of the most highlight-reel striking performances of his era. He's now moving into grappling competition full time with ACBJJ, a promotion that runs gi and no-gi tournaments, superfights and mixed grappling cards.

Why Barboza Is Pivoting to Grappling

Barboza already has a grappling result on his record. He faced UFC middleweight Sharabutdin Magomedov under the Hype FC banner in March, and that match ended in a draw. The ACBJJ signing suggests that outing wasn't a one-off curiosity but the start of a real second act.

Barboza made clear the move isn't about financial necessity. "I did the right choices in this part of my life about investments," he said. "But I'm still 40. I'm still young and very excited about the future. I have a lot of things to do in the future. Thank God I did the right choices on the financial side."

What This Means for Barboza's Legacy

Barboza leaves MMA as one of the sport's most feared kickboxers, a reputation built over nearly two decades of UFC action. At 40, with his finances settled, grappling gives him a lower-risk way to keep competing at a high level without absorbing the kind of damage that comes with striking exchanges against ranked UFC talent. For fans, it also means Barboza's athletic career isn't over, just redirected into a discipline where his transition skills and Brazilian jiu-jitsu background can still shine without the finish he suffered against Ribovics hanging over a final chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Edson Barboza retire from MMA?

Edson Barboza retired from MMA in August after a fourth consecutive loss, a second-round TKO defeat to Esteban Ribovics at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, ending his 17-year professional MMA career.

What is Edson Barboza doing after retiring from MMA?

Edson Barboza has signed with the Absolute Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (ACBJJ) to continue competing in grappling, having already fought to a draw against UFC middleweight Sharabutdin Magomedov under the Hype FC banner in March.

What was Edson Barboza's MMA record?

Edson Barboza retired from MMA with a professional record of 24-15.