The anticipated third bout featuring UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard, has been scrapped after both fighters sustained injuries during their respective training camps.
Since the announcement, Edgar spoke with UFC.com to discuss the cause of his injury.
“All of the reports are talking about my ribs, it’s actually my back,” he said. “My back’s been bothering me for quite some time. A few weeks ago I had to take a week off so that my back could calm down and I was trying to fight through it.
Edgar added that he went to see a specialist in Las Vegas to understand the injury and to get treated for it.
“I saw a UFC doctor yesterday and he said my L2 and L5 discs are bulged, and he recommended that I don’t fight right now,” he said.
Edgar and Maynard have met on two previous occasions. Maynard scored one victory over the New Jersey native at UFC Fight Night 13, while their second meeting resulted in a draw at UFC 125.
Despite suffering a back injury, Edgar said he still intended to fight through the injury and perform at UFC 130.
“I didn’t want to postpone the bout at all. I feel like I lost the fight right now. I’m very depressed about this whole situation”, Edgar said. “It’s not fair to myself, to Gray, it’s not fair to the fans to take a fight like this.”
As a result, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Matt Hamill, who were originally scheduled as the co-main event, will now fill the main event slot.
When asked about his current schedule, Edgar said he doesn’t know when he plans to return, but he said he will be prepared to fight against his opponent, Gray Maynard.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be out,” he said.
“From what I hear, Gray is pretty banged up and he wasn’t having the best camp either, so maybe everything happens for a reason. I know that when I fight Gray I want him to be at his best, he wants me to be at my best and I’m sure the fans want us both at our best too.”
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