Edson Barboza believes he has finally matured as a fighter who is ready to fight for an UFC title. As he told Combate, Barboza claims that when he steps in the Octagon on December 30th to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov, fans will watch the best version of himself to date.

“You can expect the best Edson Barboza that has ever stepped into the Octagon,” he said. “I’m training a lot. I know my time is now. I’m ready to be an UFC champion, you’ll see.

“I’m number three in the rankings and I see Tony Ferguson as the actual champion. I always make this very clear. It doesn’t matter whether or not Conor McGregor comes back. I don’t know if he is coming back or not and I don’t care. All I hope for is that whoever wins my fight with Khabib, becomes the next one to fight Ferguson for the belt.”

Barboza is on a three-fight winning streak, with wins over the likes of Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez, and Beneil Dariush. He is expected to meet Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 219, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The card will be headlined by a women’s featherweight title fight between champion Cris Cyborg and former bantamweight champion, Holly Holm.