Edson Barboza at peace with retirement after ‘internal battles’ to admit it was time to walk away

Edson Barboza left the UFC cage for the final time as a professional fighter Saturday, losing to Esteban Ribovics in the main card portion of UFC 330 in Philadelphia, and coming to the conclusion it was the right call wasn’t easy.

Barboza told MMA Fighting during fight week it was possible that Ribovics would be his final UFC bout, but now admits the decision had already been made. He had to fight back the tears walking to the octagon and seeing his kids in attendance at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, and couldn’t hold the emotion in his post-fight interview.

“It’s crazy,” Barboza told MMA Fighting on Monday. “I think maybe one of the reasons I’m re