Dan Ige is facing a featherweight newcomer, but Edson Barboza certainly isn’t a nobody.
Ige (13-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) faces Barboza (20-8 MMA, 14-8 UFC) on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 8, which takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.
And while a win might not necessarily propel Ige up the rankings, he is confident beating a renowned lightweight will result in a step up in competition.
“Edson’s been in the top 10, top five (at 155 pounds) for the past 10 years,” Ige said during Thursday’s UFC on ESPN 8 virtual media day. “He’s one of the best. He’s fought the best of the best. He’s coming down to featherweight. He’s not currently ranked, but he is still ranked at lightweight. I believe he’s No. 11 right now, but I think it puts me right there. It gives me a … maybe not put me in the top 10, but it gives me a top-10 opponent with a win over Edson for sure.”
Ige, a “Dana White’s Contender Series” alum, has won his last five fights, most recently edging out Mirsad Bektic at UFC 247.
Despite the winning streak, Ige still thinks he doesn’t get the credit he deserves and hopes people will start considering him as a legitimate threat at 145 pounds, should he beat Barboza.
“I still feel like my name gets brushed under the rug, so I still have something to prove,” Ige said. “Still gotta show that I can put anybody out, I can beat anybody in this division. So, yeah, I still got a little work to do to get that respect I want.”
