MMA Fighting has Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza live round-by-round updates for Friday’s super lightweight championship fight at Times Square in New York City.
The championship bout is expected to begin around 6:30 p.m. ET on DAZN pay-per-view. Check out our Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero results page to find out what happened on the undercard.
Lopez (21-1) seeks his third straight defense of the WBO super lightweight title, which he has held since 2023. The native New Yorker has won five straight fights, most recently earning a unanimous decision nod over Steve Claggett in June 2024. He previously held world titles at lightweight from 2019-2021, with his lone loss coming to George Kambosos Jr.
The undefeated Barboza (32-0) claimed a share of the super lightweight crown when he won an interim WBO belt this past February. Barboza went 12 rounds with Jack Catterall and earned a split decision to book his matchup with Lopez.
Get Lopez vs. Barboza round-by-round live blog below:
Round 1: Lopez and Barboza jockey for position in the center of the ring, both flicking out jabs with nothing substantial landing early. Barboza lands a good one to the body. Lopez keeping his distance, looking to lure Barboza in. Glancing overhand right from Lopez. Barboza answers with body punches. Good head movement from Lopez as Barboza triples up on his jab. Lopez sneaks in a right hand, but Barboza answers with one of his own. Barboza with another right. Counter left from Barboza, but Lopez landed a few shots there. Close opening round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Barboza.
Round 2: They trade body jabs. Lopez clearly targeting that area as per his corner’s instructions. Barboza getting loose, but Lopez’s jab has been more effective this round. Barboza steps in with a left hook. There’s a flurry, both fighters remaining defensively sound. Right to Barboza’s body, Lopez answers with a counter punch to back Lopez off. Another sneaky body shot from Lopez. Straight right from Lopez to cap off a solid round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Lopez. Overall, 19-19.
Round 3: Lopez opens with a body jab. He doubles up on his jab and scores. Barboza with a right hand on the money, Lopez backs him up with a counter left. Barboza with a right hook to the body. Barboza lands a straight right. Plenty of movement from both fighters, output leaves something to be desired. Counter left hook from Lopez. That works again as Barboza tries to come in. Counter uppercut by Lopez, he’s looking speedy.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Lopez. Overall, 29-28 Lopez.
Round 4: Lopez’s jab is buzzing, clipping the body and occasionally landing up top. Barboza isn’t backing down but he’s catching a lot of air with these counters. Slick right hand from Lopez. Barboza wants to press the action, Lopez not letting him cut off the ring. Another good counter right from Lopez. Barboza’s big, swinging shots are bouncing off Lopez’s arms and gloves. Lopez has him stuck at the end of that jab. There’s a nice jab by Barboza. Too little, too late, perhaps.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Lopez. Overall, 39-37 Lopez.
Round 5: Lopez cracks the body, but Barboza is there with a counter left. Now it’s Lopez’s turn to counter as he catches an advancing Barboza with a right hand. Barboza steps in and hits the body. Lopez lands a left hook. Barboza rips one to the body. Good right from Lopez. Lopez’s hands are low as he welcomes Barboza to come at him. Left hook scores for Lopez. Lopez with an uppercut, he’s starting to showboat a little in front of his home crowd.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Lopez. Overall, 49-46 Lopez.
Round 6: Lopez keeping up the impressive jab work. Barboza goes to the body and takes a glancing right for his troubles. Lopez goes inside to the body and springs out of range immediately. Non-stop movement from the champ. And he moved right into trouble there as Barboza ROCKS him with a right hand. Lopez wears it well, but he clearly felt that. Barboza staying aggressive, looking for counters.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Barboza. Overall, 58-56 Lopez.
Round 7: Barboza attacks the body, working to close the distance. Lopez doubles up on the jab to break Barboza’s rhythm. Barboza just ducks right into an overhand right from Lopez. Lopez follows with two more solid punches. He jabs and circles. Barboza with one to the body. Lopez dodging punches as he circles along the ropes. Hard body punch by Lopez. Lopez steps in to score with a right. Nice counter jab by Barboza. Lunging right by Lopez, but Barboza had that one scouted.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Lopez. Overall, 68-65 Lopez.
Round 8: Lopez just popping Barboza with his jab. He catches Barboza backing up and there’s a hard right. Lopez’s feints are throwing Barboza off. Jab from Lopez. Barboza hunting with his right hand. Lopez to the body. Beautiful step-in right hand from Lopez. He pops Barboza with a jab, then a body shot that disrupts Barboza. Lopez showing off some fancy footwork for the crowd. He jabs the body.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Lopez. Overall, 78-74 Lopez.
Round 9:
Round 10:
Round 11:
Round 12:
