UFC's Steve Garcia hopes to command respect with knockout of Edson Barboza

With a five-fight knockout streak inside the octagon, Steve Garcia thinks he should be a bigger talking point going into UFC Fight Night 252.

After a string of definitive performances, Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) will get his biggest test to date when he takes on legendary striker Edson Barboza (24-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) in a featherweight bout on the Feb. 22 card at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle (ESPN+).

Although some are acknowledging his work, as MMA Junkie did by naming him the 2024 Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year, Garcia admits he’s not feeling the love across the board.

“I’m definitely under the radar,” Garcia told MMA Junkie Radio. “I don’t feel like I get the respect that I’d like to think I probably deserve. But that said, each person’s opinion (is different). I’ve read articles where people don’t think I’m championship quality, people don’t think I’m ranked quality. They can think what they want to think. Every win in my UFC career is a finish. I’m not barely skating by. I’m not barely getting wins. I’ve been finishing all my opposition.”

Garcia, 32, understands the lack of attention around his name is partially of his own doing. As good as his fighting has been, Garcia, an honorable mention in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie featherweight rankings, said he could do a better job playing the game outside of the cage.

It’s not his nature to play that game, however, and if taking a longer road to the top is a consequence of not demeaning himself, then Garcia said he’s accepting of that fate.

“I want to be must-see TV,” Garcia said. “I’m not going to be acting a fool. If you want that out of me, and I’m not saying I won’t talk – there’s times and places for everything, but I’m not a clown. If I wanted to act a fool, I would’ve joined the circus. I’m not trying to make a fool out of myself. My parents didn’t raise me that way. I’m here to be as professional as I possibly can be, and if people want to hop on board, thank you very much. If you don’t, at least you’re going to have something to root for, whether it’s against me or for me. But I promise you’ll be entertained.”

Not much promotional effort is needed to generate excitement between Garcia and Barboza. The highlight reels on both sides are enough to know a Performance of the Night or Fight of the Night bonus is likely being issued after it’s done.

That’s what Garcia is chasing, he said, and he expects Barboza to be a willing participant in the style of fight he’s looking for.

“Sometimes you don’t got to control the chaos, you’ve got to thrive in it,” Garcia said. “I feel like, especially in my fights, that’s where I’ve been the most successful. The moment that chaos happens I seem to find my best shots. I’m hoping that’s what’s going to happen in Seattle. I think Edson’s notorious for welcoming a good striking match, and this is MMA, we get it, it can go up and down and it doesn’t matter, but at least in my eyes, let’s give the fans what they want to see and just go for it.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.