Jose Aldo outlasted Frankie Edgar for 25 minutes inside the Octagon at UFC 156 to hand The Answer his third straight and fourth overall loss in the promotion.
After losing his title and subsequent rematch to Benson Henderson, Edgar dropped to the featherweight division to challenge Aldo for his title.
It didn’t go as planned as he was outclassed in a second weight class.
But it wasn’t a bad showing for the former lightweight champion. Neither were his past two bouts against Henderson.
Expectations have skyrocketed since he defeated B.J. Penn for his title at UFC 112 and that has set the bar very high for Edgar. Anything less than a championship is unacceptable.
But this recent loss shouldn’t discourage him too badly as he doesn’t have much to be down on himself for. Although, the 31-year-old does need to work on his finishing in order to put fighters away rather than let a title fight reach a decision.
What’s next for Edgar following another disappointing loss is anyone’s guess. But, you have to believe he is going to gear up for another title run in the not-so-distant future.
He didn’t seem too down on himself following the loss.
“It was a close fight, and I keep finding myself in these situations,” Edgar said (h/t Matt Erickson of MMAJunkie.com). “It is what it is, so congrats to Jose on a good fight. I (thought I won the third), but it don’t matter. Jose’s the winner. I’m just going to go home and take some time, that’s all.”
It won’t take too much “time” for Edgar’s phone to start ringing about his next fight. The only question is whether it will be in the lightweight or featherweight division.
Given Edgar’s shift to featherweight, he feels he gained some speed and is stronger due to the drop in weight. He looked like it, too, in his performance against Aldo.
But where does this leave him now that’s found himself as a man without an opponent?
If he returns to the lightweight division, we could get to see a third title fight between him and Henderson, but he’d likely need to win a fight or two in order to earn a shot in that competitive group.
More than likely he will schedule another fight at 145 and take another shot at Aldo. He looked energetic and tough as a featherweight and that’s likely the best and quickest route for him to earn another title.
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