Edson Barboza requests release from UFC: ‘I think it’s time to move on’

Edson Barboza’s UFC career could be coming to an end.

A longtime member of the company’s lightweight division, Barboza went on social media on Saturday with a message to the UFC. In a straightforward tweet, Barboza thanked the promotion, but said “it’s time to move on.”

“I’m very thankful for these almost 10 years that I have been working for the company,” he wrote. “I gave my best every single fight to put on a show for the fans, but I think it’s time to move on. I don’t have more time to wait. Please let me go.”

Sources close to the fighter confirmed to MMA Fighting that he wants to part ways with the UFC, but did not elaborate why he’s making that decision.

Barboza joined the UFC in 2010, topping the likes of Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez, Paul Felder and Beneil Dariush throughout the years. The Nova Friburgo-native has only won one of his last five bouts, a knockout victory over Dan Hooker sandwiched between defeats to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kevin Lee, Justin Gaethje and Felder.

The 34-year-old striker planned on making a move to 145 pounds for the first time in his professional MMA career in 2020, but never had his featherweight debut booked. Barboza headlined or co-headlined nine UFC cards over the last decade, pocketing nine performance bonuses in the promotion.