As you may have heard, former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will tussle with current featherweight belt holder Jose Aldo at UFC 153. Edgar replaces Erik Koch, who had to step aside after sustaining an injury that, while sad for him, provided fans with some of the happiest UFC news in quite a while.
After the UFC 151 debacle, a spate of major injuries, bad TV ratings and the like, the UFC probably felt it deserved to indulge itself a bit. Frankie Edgar was the evening of pedicures and brownie sundaes that followed the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
For the record, Edgar is a great fighter. This should be a great fight. But. That doesn’t change the fact that Edgar has never actually fought at 145 pounds. Allowing Edgar to cut the line—even if it was an injury situation—isn’t fair to those who have been patiently waiting. And winning. Even Edgar himself was surprised.
It also makes sense from a business standpoint. But you know what else makes sense? Letting fighters get their title shots the old-fashioned way. Doing good business and being morally consistent are not mutually exclusive.
So, not to aspirate in the punch bowl, but here are three fighters who could have gotten the nod over Edgar. And yes, probably should have, too.