After his second heartbreaking loss in as many fights against Benson Henderson, former champion Frankie Edgar walked out of UFC 150 without his lightweight title and with no hopes of getting another title shot anytime soon.
How the mighty have fallen.
Edgar’s time as champion in UFC is over unless he can climb the ladder again and claw his way back into a spot to earn another opportunity to snag the gold. The problem is that he doesn’t deserve another shot.
Dana White and the UFC are in a tough spot because Edgar is 30 years old and the lightweight division is stacked. If the UFC keeps handing Edgar title opportunities it will hold back stars like Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz, who deserve the title shot, before Frankie gets another chance.
After yet another loss, Edgar told the Washington Post that he thought he won but realizes his time of fighting for titles is done until he earns his way back to the top:
I felt I improved from last time, and I think I did enough to win…A lot of people told me they thought I’d won, but it doesn’t matter. The judges didn’t. The decision is not going to change, and it is what it is…I’m moving on…Dana’s not going to give me another title shot, I know that much.
Despite having an almost two-year reign over the lightweight division, his recent string of defeats highlights what happens in the MMA world—no fighter can defeat father time and they have to move on eventually.
In the UFC, you have to earn your shot at the title and Edgar has proven that now isn’t his time.
While experts believe Edgar will start the arduous climb through the ranks of the lightweight division, the star would be better-off dropping 10 pounds and fighting at featherweight.
After dominating for so long at one weight, the change could be the kick in the pants that brings the fire back to Edgar’s eyes.
Add in the possibility of winning a title in two divisions, and the transition could seal Edgar’s fate as one of the best fighters of all time.
After fighting for his lightweight title and falling at the hands of Henderson, Edgar will have to go to the back of the title-contention line in any weight class he tries. He doesn’t deserve another title shot until he fights his way into one.
At this point, why not try to achieve greatness in a lighter weight class?
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