Max Holloway’s defeat to Dustin Poirier in last Saturday’s UFC 236 main event has provided clarity to a featherweight division which was in danger of having its champion splitting time between two separate divisions.
Poirier’s incredibly exciting five-round decision win impacts Holloway’s ambitions in the 155-pound frame — for the time being at least — meaning that the fighters in the upper reaches of the featherweight division have a clearer path to challenging for the Hawaiian’s championship. This will, of course, be noteworthy news for the likes of Jose Aldo, Alexander Volkanovksi, Renato Moicano and Zabit Magomedsharipov but one fighter in particular has toiled away in the division for years and says that now is the time for him to be rewarded with a shot at Holloway’s gold strap.
“I think everybody knows it should go to me,” divisional stalwart Frankie Edgar said of the identity of the next title challenger to ESPN.
“Even the guys who want the shot, you [hear] them say, ‘Well, I know Frankie should get it, but…’ You know? Alexander Volkanovski is fighting Jose Aldo in a few weeks and that may have an impact, but I think everybody knows it’s me. I’ve worked my entire career for it to be me.
“The fact I put it on the line the last time Max and I were supposed to meet up, that holds some weight. I know the UFC likes to reward people who are willing to just let it fly. I’ve done that my whole career. I’m ready for that reward.”
Edgar has received two previous shots at the featherweight title (one was an interim title) and both ended in defeats to Jose Aldo. The former UFC lightweight champion has, who has been a member of the 145-pound weight class for six years now, in the winner of 8 of his last 10 and most recently defeated Cub Swanson by decision a year ago. Indeed, his only defeats at 145-pounds have come to Aldo (x2) and Brian Ortega, all of whom who have fought for the title.
“I want this f—ing fight,” Edgar continued. “I’m not really the guy who’s going to go out of his way to create buzz. It’s not my style. It seems that’s the style everybody is going with. It would be kind of cheesy for me to start now.
“I know I’m only on a one-fight win streak, but people do realise that I took a risk and went for it. And I’d do it again, because that’s the kind of guy I am.”
