Max Holloway has nothing but respect for Frankie Edgar after his UFC 222 loss to Brian Ortega.
In a great show of sportsmanship, reigning UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway praised Frankie Edgar after his devastating loss to Brian Ortega in last night’s UFC 222 co-main event.
Edgar, the former UFC lightweight champ, was originally expected to challenge Holloway for the featherweight title but ‘Blessed’ was forced to withdraw from the championship bout after suffering a leg injury in training.
Instead of dropping out of the card, ‘The Answer’ accepted a non-title fight against surging 145-pound contender Brian Ortega, who stepped in as Holloway’s replacement.
There was not much to gain but a lot to lose for Edgar, which is why Holloway credited the MMA veteran for his display of commitment on Saturday night.
You had nothing to gain from taking that fight @FrankieEdgar. But you took it you defended what you already earned. There’s no belt for sacrificing everything but true fans and Jersey knows no belt can outshine what you bring to the sport. Chin up bratha
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) March 4, 2018
Edgar, 36, suffered the first knockout loss of his career at UFC 222 after being flattened with an elbow and follow-up uppercut at 4:44 of the first round. Edgar is known for fighting ‘the bigger guys’, and the Toms River product looked notably smaller than Ortega in the Octagon last night.
Conor McGregor, who claims to have offered to step in and fight Edgar at UFC 222, also praised the fan favorite on social media.
Frankie’s career deserved for that to be against me tonight.
Respect Frankie.
Love and respect always!
A true fighters fighter ?— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 4, 2018
At 36-years-old and having competed in the sport for almost thirteen years, Edgar is unlikely to earn another title shot at this late stage of his career. The UFC vet is, however, still considered one of the best fighters in the division and is still ranked in the top-three featherweight rankings.