Edson Barboza retired from MMA, but he's not done competing

Edson Barboza retired from mixed martial arts earlier this year, but the Brazilian veteran isn’t walking away from combat sports.

Barboza (24-15) has signed with Absolute Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, according to an announcement from the grappling promotion, continuing his combat sports career after calling time on his MMA career in August.

Barboza announced his retirement following a fourth consecutive defeat, a second-round technical knockout loss to Esteban Ribovics at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. The loss marked the end of his 17-year professional MMA career.

Barboza has now signed with ACBJJ, which holds gi and no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments, superfights and mixed grappling events.

Barboza has already tested himself in grappling. He faced UFC middleweight Sharabutdin Magomedov under the Hype FC banner in March, with their match ending in a draw.

“I did the right choices in this part of my life about investments,” he told MMA Junkie when asked about his future. “But I’m still 40. I’m still young and very excited about the future. I have a lot of things to do in the future. Thank God I did the right choices on the financial side.”