Former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar has done all he needs to do to earn himself a crack at the UFC featherweight title, unfortunately one man got in his way — Conor McGregor. The brash Irishman knocked out his opponents and talked his way into a title fight. When champion Jose Aldo pulled out of their UFC 189 bout due to injury, McGregor defeated Chad Mendes earning him the 145-pound interim gold. With that being the case, Edgar will again have to wait for McGregor to fight Aldo at some point later this year.
Frankie Edgar looking to fight ‘before the year is out’
That along with the fact that McGregor is coaching alongside Urijah Faber on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter has Edgar choosing not to wait and instead would like to fight at least once more before the end of the calendar year.
“I’m pretty sure they’re waiting for him [McGregor] and Aldo to have that fight — that’s a pretty big money fight the UFC is looking for,” Edgar told MMASucka.com. “I’m not gonna wait, I’ll probably fight before the year’s out, but I want the winner of that fight.”
Edgar is ranked at #2 in the featherweight division and has beaten #6 Cub Swanson, as well as Faber. With Mendes coming off a loss to McGregor, #5 Max Holloway fighting #7 Charles Oliviera, the most logical fight would be Ricardo Lamas. “The Answer” doesn’t care who he fights, so long as he gets inside the Octagon.
“I’m just letting the UFC decide what’s next. Definitely looking to fight before the year is out though.”
Edgar (19-4-1) is riding a four-fight winning streak, dating back to July 2013. Those victories include Charles Oliveira, B.J. Penn, Swanson and Faber. The last loss on the New Jersey native’s rap sheet is the 145-pound kingpin Jose Aldo at UFC 156.