UFC Fight Night Seattle Card Suffers Another Blow, Edson Barboza Out

In a disappointing turn of events for fight fans, veteran lightweight turned featherweight Edson Barboza has been forced to withdraw from his upcoming bout at UFC Fight Night 252 due to injury. The event, scheduled for February 22 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, was set to feature Barboza in a compelling matchup against the surging Steve Garcia. This development marks yet another setback for a card that has already seen its fair share of changes.

🚨| Edson Barboza is OUT of his scheduled bout with Steve Garcia at #UFCSeattle on February 22nd.
[first rep. @BigMarcel24] pic.twitter.com/ybE1AmjaQL

— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) February 13, 2025

Barboza’s Withdrawal: A Rare Occurrence

Edson Barboza, a staple of the UFC for over a decade, has rarely been sidelined due to injury throughout his illustrious career. The 39-year-old Brazilian was looking to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to Lerone Murphy, which had snapped a two-fight winning streak against Billy Quarantillo and Sodiq Yusuff. Barboza’s exciting style and technical striking have made him a fan favorite, and his absence will undoubtedly be felt on the Seattle card.

The nature of Barboza’s injury has not been disclosed, and UFC officials have yet to make an official announcement regarding his removal from the event. This silence leaves fans and pundits speculating about the severity of the injury and its potential impact on Barboza’s future in the sport.

For Steve Garcia, this cancellation represents a significant lost opportunity. Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has been on an impressive tear, winning his last five fights, all by knockout and all within the first half of the bouts. Victories over notable names such as Chase Hooper, Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, and Seung Woo Choi have propelled Garcia up the featherweight rankings. A win over a respected veteran like Barboza would have been a major statement and potentially catapulted Garcia into the division’s top echelon.

UFC Seattle Has Taken a Turn for the Worse

The removal of the Barboza vs. Garcia bout is just the latest in a series of changes that have reshaped UFC Fight Night 252. As it stands, the card still boasts several intriguing matchups, but the loss of Barboza’s star power is undeniable. The main event features former two-division champion Henry Cejudo taking on the rising Chinese star Song Yadong in what promises to be a pivotal bantamweight clash.

Other notable bouts on the card include a middleweight showdown between Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez, as well as an exciting featherweight contest pitting Andre Fili against Melquizael Costa. However, the card now features two TBA slots, including Steve Garcia’s opponent, indicating that the UFC’s matchmakers are scrambling to fill gaps and maintain the event’s appeal.

The current UFC Fight Night 252 lineup includes:

• Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong
• Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez
• Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Jean Silva
• Rob Font vs. TBA
• Steve Garcia vs. TBA
• Ibo Aslan vs. Ion Cutelaba
• Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker
• Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Eric McConico Jr.
• Andre Fili vs. Melquizael Costa
• Modestas Bukauskas vs. Rafael Cerqueira
• Javid Basharat vs. Ricky Simon
• Adam Fugitt vs. Billy Ray Goff
• Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Nick Klein

As the event date approaches, all eyes will be on the UFC to see how they navigate this latest setback. Will Steve Garcia remain on the card against a replacement opponent? Can the promotion find suitable replacements to maintain the card’s depth and appeal? These questions loom large as fight week draws near.

The situation underscores the volatile nature of MMA event planning, where injuries and last-minute changes are par for the course. It also highlights the importance of depth in the UFC roster, as the organization often relies on its extensive talent pool to fill gaps when high-profile bouts fall through.

For now, fight fans in Seattle and around the world will have to wait and see how the UFC responds to this latest challenge. With just over a week until fight night, time is of the essence for the promotion to solidify the card and ensure that UFC Fight Night 252 delivers the excitement and high-level competition that fans have come to expect from the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.