Sodiq Yusuff Makes Comeback Declaration From The Hospital Following Loss To Edson Barboza

Before the UFC heads back to Abu Dhabi this week, the promotion staged another event from the Apex facility in Las Vegas. And the pair tasked with headlining the card couldn't have set the stage better for the upcoming pay-per-view.

Topping the lineup this past weekend were a pair of ranked featherweight contenders, Sodiq Yusuff and Edson Barboza. The former was competing in his very first main event on MMA's biggest stage.

And Yusuff's first time in the headline spotlight was certainly a memorable one, with the Nigerian-American and his Brazilian counterpart battling in a thrilling back-and-forth contest across five rounds.

While it initially appeared as though "Super Sodiq" was going to stop his veteran opponent inside the first round, Barboza recovered and made an impressive comeback en route to a unanimous decision victory.

With that, Yusuff has been left licking his wounds after seeing his planned push towards the top at 145 pounds stalled for the time being. But that doesn't mean he's lacking in motivation. 

Yusuff: It Hurts A Lot, But I'm Gonna Get Past It

Following his disappointing setback, which marked only the second of his UFC career to date, Yusuff addressed his supporters in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel. The top 15 featherweight spoke from inside the hospital, where both he and Barboza were sent post-fight.

With the Brazilian victor visible in the background, Yusuff promised to bounce back from his latest setback — something he's become accustomed to in life.

"Everything in perspective, okay. It hurts a lot right now, but I know at the end of the day I'm gonna get past it," Yusuff said. "I said it on the commentary after the fight, I was a good nail before I ever was a hammer, and I'm not just saying that. I had a lot of bumps and bruises before I ever became that guy that you guys see fighting on the TV. Because of that, I know I'll be back.

"Everybody out there has a fight, has a struggle that's going on. You guys just get to watch mine on TV," Yusuff continued. "I dropped the ball today, but the struggle continues. That's fighting... For now, I gotta eat my L. But I'm gonna do it with my chin up and continue to be a good nail until I'm eventually the hammer again."

While Yusuff firmly expects his time to come down the line, for now, the old guard of Barboza remains in the picture at featherweight and a tough test for any surging prospect.