Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Bantamweight Pedro Munhoz wanted to fight former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.
It seems the current coronavirus pandemic is not the only thing preventing UFC bantamweight contender Pedro Munhoz from getting a fight booked.
In an interview with Ag Fight, the rising Brazilian says a fight against former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar was in talks before the pandemic hit the world and a number of events ended up postponed.
However, Munhoz believes ‘The Answer’ was not into the pairing that much from the start and claims Frankie actually avoided the fight, leaving Pedro in the dark about his next match.
“We were beginning a negotiation before the pandemic,” Munhoz said. “I called out some names, like Frankie Edgar and Urijah Faber. Some Edgar talks began to arise, but nothing official. After the pandemic, I didn’t hear anything from them (the UFC) for about six weeks.
“These last two weeks, I thought the fight was going to fall through, because of some of his interviews. The UFC kind of confirmed the date with me, but it seems Frankie is avoiding this fight, because it’s not been easy (the negotiation). I have nothing official, no contract. But verbally, I was going to fight on June 6.”
The June 6 event was originally UFC 251, scheduled to be held in Perth, Australia. Since international cards in the near future were all pulled from the UFC’s calendar, the event will most likely be shifted to the USA, as well.
In his last outing, Pedro Munhoz (18-4-1 NC) dropped a unanimous decision to Aljamain Sterling, back in June 2019. Before that, the 33-year-old was on a three-fight winning streak, with victories over Brett Johns, Bryan Caraway, and most recently, in March of the same year, former champion Cody Garbrandt.