On Saturday night Frankie Edgar will travel a familiar road from a different perspective.
After triumphant performances against B.J. Penn and Gray Maynard, Frankie Edgar’s run as UFC lightweight champion came to an end against Benson Henderson at UFC 144 in Japan. Despite the judges scoring the bout a unanimous decision, the fight was a closely contested affair, with both fighters finding their share of success. Edgar and Henderson battled down to the wire but at fight’s end it was Henderson’s hand raised in victory.
In the days following their matchup, Edgar became vocal about wanting a rematch. While UFC President Dana White‘s original decision was to push Edgar to the back of the pack, “The Answer’s” campaigning in addition to the fact he had granted both of his previous opponents rematches, were enough to convince White to grant Edgar his wish.
In the main event of UFC 150, he will be attempting to find redemption and reclaim the lightweight throne.
“You just want to be a better fighter than you were last time,” Edgar told Bleacher Report. “[Henderson] is a tough guy to prepare for whether it is the first time or the fifth time you are facing him. I’m trying to improve the little things we saw in the first fight and make an improvement in my overall game in general. If I do that I should take care of business.
“I’m anxious to get in there. It was a hard training camp and I’m ready to fight. All of the interviews, photo shoots and other things we have to do are becoming annoying at this point because I’m ready to go.”
Over the past two years Edgar has built his reputation on resilience and resolve. The former champion displayed tremendous heart and perseverance in both of last year’s fights with Maynard and then again after being rocked by Henderson in the third round of their first matchup in February.
It has been on the strength of these types of performances where Edgar has laid the foundation to his legacy and nothing has meant more to him than being a champion.
He knows what it takes to shine in the biggest moments on the sport’s largest stage because he’s risen to the occasion time after time.
“There is fire in me because I’m fighting for a title again,” Edgar said. “But to be honest, I feel as if I’m fighting for a title in every fight. I put so much pressure on myself to win, every fight feels like the biggest fight whether there is a title on the line or there isn’t.
“In this fight I’m going out there determined and ready to put my life on the line to make sure I get this win. The belt is coming back to N.J.”
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