Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. A newly announced Ultimate Fighting Championship card on March 5
will play host to a thrilling striker vs. grappler battle at 145
pounds.
MMA Junkie was the first to break the news on Thursday,
reporting that Edson
Barboza (22-10) will come to blows with Bryce
Mitchell (14-0) on March 5. The two featherweights will toe the
line at a previously
unannounced UFC card on that date, which does not currently
have a location or venue officially on the books. The pairing,
which has been agreed upon but not formally signed, has since been
confirmed by
other outlets. No other matchups have yet been announced for
the event, and it is not currently clear if this bout will serve as
its headliner.
Feared Brazilian striker Barboza had a two-fight win streak snapped
when Giga
Chikadze knocked him out in August. The defeat put an end to
clear-cut victories over Makwan
Amirkhani and Shane
Burgos, knocking the latter out to take home a “Fight of the
Night” bonus. The former lightweight contender first relocated to
the division in May 2020, where he faced Dan Ige and
lost by
contentious split decision. Over his storied career, the
American Top Team standout has recorded victories over names like
Anthony
Pettis, Beneil
Dariush, Dan Hooker
and Paul
Felder, among many others.
The undefeated Mitchell will put his 14-win streak on the line when
he faces the toughest test in his career in Barboza. While Barboza
celebrates 59% of his career victories by knockout, Mitchell has
yet to stop a fighter in this fashion, with all of his finishes
coming by tapout. “Thug Nasty” made his way to the promotion off of
the 27th season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” reaching the semifinals
and competing on the Finale in 2018 to secure his spot with the
UFC. Of note, the twister that Mitchell hit on Matt Sayles
in 2019 clocked in as the second in UFC history, with the first
Chan
Sung Jung’s over Leonard
Garcia in 2011.
