Edson Barbosa vs. Billy Quarantillo is scheduled for three rounds in the featherweight division as the co-main event of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
This is a tale of two strikers heading in opposite directions in their careers. Quarantillo is on the verge of moving into the featherweight rankings, while Barbosa is hanging on by a thread. UFC odds have Quarantillo penned as a -175 favorite, while the always-entertaining Barbosa is currently listed as a +150 underdog.
Here are our picks and predictions for Barbos vs. Quarantillo at UFC Fight Night on Saturday.
Edson Barboza vs Billy Quarantillo fight odds
Edson Barboza vs Billy Quarantillo method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Edson Barboza | Billy Quarantillo |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +380 | +225 |
| To win by Points | +350 | +225 |
| To win by Submission | +2,500 | +650 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on April 13, 2023.
Edson Barboza vs Billy Quarantillo picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Edson Barboza vs Billy Quarantillo betting preview
This MMA bout isn't for the cerebral fight fans. Barbosa, an accomplished Muay Thai striker, will clash with Quarantillo, a fierce boxer, in what promises to be an all-out war. This co-main event guarantees an action-packed fight of grit, blood, and violence.
Quarantillo is 3-2 in his last five with all those wins coming by knockout. We last saw him tear up Alexander Hernandez at UFC 282, blasting him out in two rounds. He spares no expense in trying to damage his opponents, and with a win over a division mainstay, he hopes to get ranked for a bigger fight down the line.
The aggressive battler can sometimes be his own worst enemy. Quarantillo comes ahead and throws a lot of shots, leaving himself open to returning fire. However, even the people who beat Quarantillo looked like they had to fight out of a meat grinder.
Those defensive deficiencies are opportunities for the aging Barbosa. Things haven’t looked good for him lately, holding a record of just 2-3 over his last five and getting dominated by Bryce Mitchell in his latest fight. Barbosa might not have enough gas in the tank to remain at the top of the division anymore, so he’ll have to rely on his experience and formidable power to stay relevant.
Barbosa is a skilled Muay Thai striker who can still land crippling shots. Aging strikers don’t do well against ground specialists as we saw in the Mitchell fight, as they tend to fight more conservatively to fight off takedowns. Unlike his previous fights, Quarantillo’s leaky defense and constant pressure could give him something to work with.
This really could go either way. Quarantillo and Barbosa will get their hands on each other, so the thinking is that whoever wins the range war will ultimately prevail in the bout. Once Quarantillo gets inside, he’ll blast Barbosa out, but Barbosa will win if he can score some kicks and slow his younger foe down.
Edson Barboza vs Billy Quarantillo tale of the tape
| Edson Barboza | Billy Quarantillo | |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Age | 34 |
| 5-foot-11 | Height | 5-foot-10 |
| 145 lbs | Weight | 145 lbs |
| 75 inches | Reach | 70 inches |
| 22-11 (13 KO) | Record | 17-4 (8 KO) |
Edson Barboza vs Billy Quarantillo UFC prediction and best bet
Fight prediction: Quarantillo ML
This fight does give off some Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland vibes, as the superior technical striker could pull off the upset against the younger finisher. Quarantillo averages 7.88 significant strikes per round at 58% accuracy, but he gets hit a lot. Barbosa might not be at his best, but he may not have to be if Quarantillo is going to be there for him to inflict damage.
Unfortunately, Barbosa is looking washed as he’s 3-7 in his last 10 fights, having been away from the octagon for a lengthy 13 months. If he can’t keep Quarantillo on the outside (and we don’t think he can for 15 minutes), then he will get outworked and beaten up.
We’re taking Billy Q for the W.
Prediction: Quarantillo moneyline (-175 at DraftKings)
Fight best bet: Over 2.5 rounds
It’s hard to zero in on a solid prop for this one. Quarantillo should win, but his defensive lapses give Barbosa a chance to do some damage.
Each of their last six fights has gone over 2.5 rounds, and considering how close this fight is on paper, we think the best bet is the fight going over 2.5 rounds at -125.
Pick: Over 2.5 rounds (-125 at DraftKings)
