Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
Get all the details on UFC 240’s main event here, as Max Holloway faces Frankie Edgar.
UFC 240’s main event sees a battle for the Featherweight world title with champion Max Holloway (20-4 MMA; 16-4 UFC) defending against former Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (23-6-1 MMA; 17-6-1 UFC). The UFC rankings have Edgar as the division’s #4 contender, while the champ is #6 pound-for-pound. UFC 240: Holloway vs. Edgar airs live from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada this Saturday night, July 27. The main card airs on PPV through ESPN+ with a fight time of 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT, with the prelims starting at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN and 6:30 p.m. ET on Fight Pass.
Holloway vs. Edgar was in danger of becoming a Featherweight Khabib vs. Ferguson – that fight that should happen, and gets scheduled to happen, but just never quite comes together. They were first scheduled for UFC 218 in December 2017, but Edgar stepped out with an injury and was replaced by Jose Aldo. Then it was UFC 222 in March 2018, but this time Holloway was injured. Edgar stayed on the card, only to be KO’d by Brian Ortega. As of press time, Holloway vs Edgar is finally on – fingers crossed that it stays that way!
How do these two stack up?
Holloway: 27 years old | 5’11” | 69” reach
Edgar: 37 years old | 5’6” | 68” reach
What have these two done recently?
Holloway: L – Dustin Poirier (UD) | W – Brian Ortega (TKO) | W – Jose Aldo (TKO)
Edgar: W – Cub Swanson (UD) | L – Brian Ortega (KO) | W – Yair Rodriguez (TKO)
How did these two get here?
Max Holloway’s Featherweight run has been rather remarkable. As a Featherweight, he’s undefeated in nearly 6 years. In that time he has won and defended the title, had an amazing performance against Ortega in December, and put together a 13 fight win streak, many highlighted by terrifically violent outings. But he also comes in here off a loss, as his last fight was a step up to Lightweight and a chance to become (ugh) “champ champ.” He lost that shot against Dustin Poirier, and now, for the first time since January 2014, he enters the ring coming off a loss. Let’s see how it impacts him.
Frankie Edgar’s career is pretty amazing. He’s been in the UFC for 12 years, debuting all the way back at UFC 67. He became the Lightweight champ in 2010, and stands among the best Lightweights in company history. In 2013 he dropped down to Featherweight and has taken two prior shots at the belt here – losing both times to Jose Aldo. When he suffered that loss to Ortega, you would be forgiven if you thought he was pretty much done. But he bounced back, defeating Cub Swanson the very next month. Now, at 37, it’s hard to imagine he has many more shots, and he’s the definite underdog. But he’s also only lost to Aldo and Ortega in that 6 year Featherweight run, and has shown he is not a man to be written off, ever.
Why should you care?
Because Max Holloway is a machine, because Frankie Edgar has turned in some of the greatest performances in UFC history, and because Holloway’s last fight was one of the year’s best. This should be an excellent war.