UFC 142 Preview – Edson Barboza vs Terry Etim

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Fans of striking will really dig the fight between Terry Etim and Edson Barboza. Etim had one of the most exciting 17 second fights you’re ever going to see at UFC 138, when he ran through Edward Faalototo. Before that fight, he had lost to Rafael dos Anjos more than a year earlier at UFC 112. Etim almost caught Anjos with his great guillotine early in the fight, but dos Anjos persevered and was able to get the armbar to finish the fight in the second round. So this is Etim’s third fight in a two year time period, which will be interesting.

Barboza quickly established himself as one of the most promising lightweights stars in his November 2010 debut at UFC 123. He took away Pedro Rizzo’s title of most vicious legkicks when he did everything he could to try to chop Mike Lullo’s leg away until the referee had to stop the fight. Next up in March 2011, he fought WEC vet and fellow great striker Anthony Njokuani in an exciting fight that was the best fight of the night. He finally went 3-0 inside the UFC where he had another fight of the night performance in beating Ross Pearson in a really close great fight.

I see this fight being super close, both Barboza and Etim are really high level MMA-strikers, so I see this fight staying up on its feet. Etim does have a guillotine or two up his sleeve, so you never know what can happen if it goes to the ground. Should be exciting, and might be another fight of the night bonus for Barboza.