Cub Swanson makes case for title shot over Frankie Edgar: 11 years and ‘I’ve never fought for a title’

Frankie Edgar is the obvious top contender for Max Holloway’s newly acquired featherweight title, but three’s at least one other guy ready to make his claim for the belt.

When Max Holloway beat Jose Aldo to win the UFC featherweight title, the result likely pleased Frankie Edgar to no end. The Answer has been on the receiving end of three UFC title shots since losing his lightweight belt to Benson Henderson back in 2012, two of those against Jose Aldo, and he’s lost all of them.

But, those are the only fights he’s lost in the last half decade, going 7-3 in the UFC (7-2 at featherweight). With Aldo no longer king of the mountain, another title shot for Frankie Edgar suddenly makes a lot more sense. Unless, of course, you listen to Cub Swanson.

Swanson is the only other name at 145 right now in clear position for a shot at the title. And despite having already lost to both Edgar and current champ Holloway, he made his pitch for title contention on FS1 following the UFC 212 PPV event (transcript via MMA Junkie).

“The only thing is (Edgar has) had how many title fights? How many chances?” Swanson said on UFC 212’s post-event show on FS1. “My whole career – I’ve been with the company 11 years now – I’ve never fought for a title. I’ve been right there. I’ve had it promised. I’ve had it taken away. I think it’s the most exciting fight and it makes the most sense.”

And while Holloway already has a dominant win over Swanson in the bag, Cub assures fans that he would fair better in a second shot at the new champion.

“I don’t think I fought very good; he was the better man that night,” Swanson said. “I had a couple injuries in the fight that just made me tank. He beat me up good. I went back to the drawing board. I’ve come back stronger. I’ve proved that. I think I deserve another shot, and I think it’s the most exciting fight you can make right now.”

Of course Edgar is staking his claim as well, recently telling FloCombat that “If Max wants to be this dominant champion and clear the division, he would have to face me. I’d imagine he would want to test himself against someone like myself and not someone he has already finished.”

Only time will tell who gets the first crack at Holloway’s belt, and for his part, the champion seems eager to welcome any and all comers.

Frankie Edgar is the obvious top contender for Max Holloway’s newly acquired featherweight title, but three’s at least one other guy ready to make his claim for the belt.

When Max Holloway beat Jose Aldo to win the UFC featherweight title, the result likely pleased Frankie Edgar to no end. The Answer has been on the receiving end of three UFC title shots since losing his lightweight belt to Benson Henderson back in 2012, two of those against Jose Aldo, and he’s lost all of them.

But, those are the only fights he’s lost in the last half decade, going 7-3 in the UFC (7-2 at featherweight). With Aldo no longer king of the mountain, another title shot for Frankie Edgar suddenly makes a lot more sense. Unless, of course, you listen to Cub Swanson.

Swanson is the only other name at 145 right now in clear position for a shot at the title. And despite having already lost to both Edgar and current champ Holloway, he made his pitch for title contention on FS1 following the UFC 212 PPV event (transcript via MMA Junkie).

“The only thing is (Edgar has) had how many title fights? How many chances?” Swanson said on UFC 212’s post-event show on FS1. “My whole career – I’ve been with the company 11 years now – I’ve never fought for a title. I’ve been right there. I’ve had it promised. I’ve had it taken away. I think it’s the most exciting fight and it makes the most sense.”

And while Holloway already has a dominant win over Swanson in the bag, Cub assures fans that he would fair better in a second shot at the new champion.

“I don’t think I fought very good; he was the better man that night,” Swanson said. “I had a couple injuries in the fight that just made me tank. He beat me up good. I went back to the drawing board. I’ve come back stronger. I’ve proved that. I think I deserve another shot, and I think it’s the most exciting fight you can make right now.”

Of course Edgar is staking his claim as well, recently telling FloCombat that “If Max wants to be this dominant champion and clear the division, he would have to face me. I’d imagine he would want to test himself against someone like myself and not someone he has already finished.”

Only time will tell who gets the first crack at Holloway’s belt, and for his part, the champion seems eager to welcome any and all comers.