Frankie Edgar isn’t waiting around.
The former UFC lightweight champion missed out on stepping in to face Conor McGregor at UFC 189, but he’s not letting another opportunity slip by.
Featherweight champion Jose Aldo will face interim champ Conor McGregor Dec. 12 at UFC 194 and Edgar intends to be in fighting shape.
“I’m hoping to fight around that time, anyway,” Edgar told Severe MMA’s Andrew McGahon in Bahrain. “Then I don’t have to worry about it. I’ll be in camp anyway if something comes up. I really do think [Aldo and McGregor] are going to fight this time around, but you never know. I was ready to jump in on 15 days notice. No matter what I’ll be ready to go again.”
McGregor scored a second round TKO finish over fellow contender Chad Mendes at UFC 189 in July after Aldo was forced to withdraw due to an injured rib. With Edgar and Mendes sitting at No. 2 and No. 3 in the division’s rankings, the pair seem like a natural booking.
“I think I should be the guy, no matter what,” said Edgar. “I do want to fight again. I don’t want to wait until [Aldo and McGregor] fight and then how many months after that. I’ve got to take care of business but I believe I am the No. 1 contender.”
Edgar hasn’t lost a fight since his 2013 featherweight debut. The former champ challenged Aldo at UFC 156 in the ‘Fight of the Night,’ but came up short on the scorecards.
Since then Edgar has scored wins over Charles Oliveira, B.J. Penn, Cub Swanson and Urijah Faber.
“I feel like I’m competitive [at 145 pounds] and I feel like I’m right there,” said Edgar. “I’m one fight away. I think I could probably not fight and still get the title shot. I think I’ve earned that. Why would I knock on the door and not wait for someone to answer and leave? I don’t think I’ll ever rule out 135 in the future. Who knows? Right now, 145 is my goal.”
As for picking a winner between Aldo and McGregor, Edgar is sticking to his guns.
“When I was asked this before the first fight was supposed to happen I said there were some unknowns about McGregor,” said Edgar. “I went with Aldo. I thought Aldo would win and I’m still going to give him the nod but I think it’s going to be more competitive than I expected.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘I want to fight the best possible people.’ Chris Weidman says he ‘knows for a fact’ he’s not retiring from MMA without fighting Jon Jones. ‘I want to have the biggest challenges in front of me and conquer them.’
Speculate away. Fedor Emlianenko, Kazushi Sakuraba and Frank Shamrock are all headed to Bellator’s upcoming Fan Fest.
‘I’ll have my revenge.’ Bethe Correia fires back at Gene LeBell’s comments and wants a rematch with Ronda Rousey in 2016.
‘Make it happen.’ Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos relents and finally agrees to fight Alistair Overeem.
Stacked. ‘Jacare’ Souza vs. Yoel Romero has been booked again, this time for UFC 194 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Watch The MMA Hour with Chris Weidman, Donald Cerrone, Will Brooks, Roger Huerta, Cathal Pendred and Jeff Novitzky.
MEDIA STEW
Free Fight: Andrei Arlovski vs Travis Browne.
Inside MMA’s highlights from around the world.
New promo for TUF.
Anthony Pettis giving back.
Max Holloway wants that McGregor rematch.
What are you doing, Mir?
Long watches.
Matt Brown fan Q&A (asked about Gastelum, Reebok, IV ban, Fighter’s Union)
…
TWEETS
Beef.
Still waiting on the JDS confirmation! Come on @junior_cigano time to get rolling! I can’t believe you are afraid.. So what R u waiting for
— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) August 17, 2015
@Alistairovereem Afraid??? Are you kidding me? @lorenzofertitta @danawhite #JoeSilva #USADA Make it happen #NoMoreTalking
— Junior Dos Santos (@junior_cigano) August 17, 2015
lets do this https://t.co/wLdstGWUen
— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) August 17, 2015
@FrankieEdgar what’s up G U down for Dec. 12 @danawhite @ufc ? Let’s do this!!
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) August 18, 2015
Pennington looks like she needs a dance partner. Good thing I’m a great dancer! Set it up #ufc191
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) August 17, 2015
Oh no silly goose, @BigfootSilva dick tucked and took a fight vs someone else. I’ll see him in Korea I bet https://t.co/FMmjKS16Tg
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) August 17, 2015
@mmamania @ryanbader damn Bader talking like he about to do work.. my tweeples how should I respond? “I’m old and out of shape”.. lol
— Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) August 18, 2015
Congrats.
Just 3 days left to get your #DontBeADNB shirt at http://t.co/YCZuFVhRD7 ! Over 36000 of representing already!! pic.twitter.com/xPnTgyaWFz
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) August 17, 2015
Booked.
Wow! We are doing a great job punishing these cheaters! They already gave him a year suspension and… https://t.co/AYUZ7avHzr
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) August 18, 2015
Oh no.
. @FrankieEdgar – Change your number?
— Chael Sonnen (@sonnench) August 18, 2015
Also works for math tests.
@rondarousey, did you see this #Repost @ufcfighteredits with @repostapp. ??? The only 4 … http://t.co/k7MXaAFTlg pic.twitter.com/MABHTIpcQx
— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) August 17, 2015
Breakup track.
taylorswift https://t.co/5HArMvOj8o
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) August 17, 2015
Looks dangerous.
This is how we say “happy birthday” at @tristargym ! Bonne fête @AdrianaVukovich ! pic.twitter.com/7azbJMMLzC
— Olivier Aubin (@MMAOAM) August 17, 2015
Never change.
So, you all like smiles? https://t.co/NEd5ufC2yF pic.twitter.com/VNn8Zwx2Hk
— Gunnar Nelson (@GunniNelson) August 18, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Aug. 17 2015)
Ronaldo Souza vs. Yoel Romero at UFC 194
Ali Bagautinov vs. Joseph Benavidez at UFC 192
Angela Hill vs. Rose Namajunas at UFC 192
Henry Cejudo vs. Jussier Formiga at UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Gastelum
Mike Bronzoulis vs. Josh Thomson at Bellator 142: Dynamite
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Emmery Myers.
Two significant new developments have arisen regarding the Fedor Emelianenko sweepstakes ;
First, buried behind the story that Fedor would be joining Kazushi Sakuraba and Frank Shamrock at a Bellator fan event, was the revelation that Bellator is not currently in negotiations with Emelianenko and that his “price tag doesn’t make sense as a pure television product”. For more coverage of why Bellator and Fedor do not make sense financially, click here.
The second tidbit comes from the only currently unsigned opponent which makes sense for Fedor.
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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