The UFC booked Urijah Faber vs. Scott Jorgensen as the new The Ultimate Fighter Finale main event on Tuesday, but that wasn’t their original choice to replace the canceled Demetrious Johnson vs. John Moraga title fight.
The organization first approached featherweights Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson about headlining the show, but the fight never materialized after Swanson told the UFC he wasn’t healthy enough to take the fight.
“I’m still a little banged up from my fight with (Dustin) Poirier and five weeks isn’t enough time to prepare for a five-round fight,” Swanson wrote via text message.
After Edgar’s manager Ali Abdel-Aziz told “UFC Tonight” on Fuel TV last week that Edgar wanted to fight Swanson in a five-round main event, the fighters went back and forth on Twitter about the potential fight.
“I’m a little surprised Frankie Edgar is still picking fights with us WEC boys,” Swanson wrote.
“Don’t flatter yourself. You are on a streak and I want in is all,” Edgar replied.
Both Edgar and Swanson are still interested in fighting each other next, however, a new date has not been set for the fight.
The Johnson-Moraga tilt was scrapped after “Mighty Mouse” suffered an injury. No word just yet on when he’ll return to action.
The TUF 17 Finale will take place Saturday, April 13 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.