Edson Barboza books first match since UFC retirement

Edson Barboza will return to combat sports three months after his retirement from the UFC, and strikes will be involved. The 40-year-old veteran, who has competed in grappling earlier this year, is set to face off with fellow UFC veteran Rashid Magomedov in a “battle match” on ACBJJ, scheduled for Nov. 13 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

According to ACBJJ rulebook for battle matches, “all strikes with the hands and legs (including the “stomping kick”), elbows, knees, and head are permitted both standing and on the ground; all submission holds and chokeholds are also permitted without restriction.” Only strikes above the collarbone are prohibited.

Barboza retired from MMA in August after suffering a second-round TKO loss to Esteban Ribovics, his fourth straight defeat in the UFC. Magomedov went 5-1 in the octagon between 2014 and 2017, going 6-4-1 with one no-contest since under the PFL and ACA banners.

Former UFC fighter and WSOF champion Rousimar Palhares will face off with Andre Galvao under the same battle match rules in the main event of ACBJJ 23, a rematch of their wild ADCC 2011 clash. UFC fighters Rodolfo Vieira, Kelvin Gastelum are set to meet in a no-gi match in the co-main event.

The line-up features other MMA veterans such as Rinat Fakhretdinov, Phil Rowe, Antonio Carlos Junior and Gleison Tibau. Check the updated line-up below.

• Andre Galvao vs. Rousimar Palhares — battle
• Rodolfo Vieira vs. Kelvin Gastelum — no-gi
• Edson Barboza vs. Rashid Magomedov — battle
• Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Joao Zeferino — battle
• Diogo Reis vs. Bruno Borges — jiu-jitsu
• Phil Rowe vs. Gleison Tibau — battle
• Islam Mamilov vs. Jonnatas Gracie — jiu-jitsu
• Felipe Costa vs. Eldar Sayidov — no-gi
• Ary Farias vs. Yusup Saadulаеv — battle
• Joilton Lutterbach vs. Askhab Zulaev — battle
• Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Ivan Shtyrkov