Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC
“It’s tough when you want something really that bad and you can’t get it. I’ve been close so many times before.”
UFC 240 marked Frankie Edgar’s third title fight at featherweight and, once again, the former UFC lightweight champion came up short in becoming a two-division champ and joining the likes of B.J. Penn, Randy Couture, Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Henry Cejudo.
Edgar was bested by reigning featherweight king Max Holloway in the UFC 240 main event and, speaking to reporters at the post-fight press conference, ‘The Answer’ said he was ‘heartbroken’ by the result.
“I’m heartbroken,” Edgar said, per MMA Fighting’s Alexander K. Lee. “It’s tough when you want something really that bad and you can’t get it. I’ve been close so many times before.”
“I’m pissed off, a little disappointed, but I’m proud of my performance,” Edgar added later. “I’m just disappointed in letting my team down, you know? I know they’re proud of me, but you always want to deliver a victory to them because they sacrifice so much as well.”
Edgar ultimately lost a unanimous decision to Holloway, but the result wasn’t a blowout by any means. In fact, the 37-year-old MMA veteran feels he won a couple of rounds but admitted not doing enough to convince the judges, who scored the bout 50-45, 49-46, and 48-47 in ‘Blessed’s’ favor.
“I thought I won a couple,” he said. “It’s tough to really say when you’re in there, I guess I’ve got to watch the fight. But my team thought I won a couple too.
“It doesn’t matter, it wasn’t enough.”
Although it’s highly unlikely Edgar will ever challenge for a UFC title again, the Toms River, New Jersey product is adamant about not retiring. Edgar is currently the No. 4-ranked featherweight in the world, but expect the fan favorite drop a few spots after the UFC updates its rankings in the coming days.