Frankie Edgar Might Soon Be the Dan Henderson of Lightweight and Featherweight
Frankie Edgar will be making his new home at 145 pounds, but that doesn't necessarily mean his time in the lightweight division is finished.
The former UFC champion opted to drop down to featherweight following a loss to Benson Henderson at UFC 150 in early August; a move that many have been pushing on Edgar for years.
Throughout his career, Edgar has been one of the smallest competitors fighting at 155 pounds, but that didn't stop him from winning and holding onto the UFC lightweight title for almost two years. Still, following a discouraging second loss to Henderson earlier this month, Edgar says it was the right time to test the waters at 145 pounds.
“I think it was just the timing of everything. Obviously the fight didn't go my way, the two fights, and maybe just a new landscape; it's something different down there. Not saying that I'll never got back to 155,” Edgar told MMAWeekly Radio.
“I think big fights definitely interest me whatever weight class they're at, so maybe in the future who knows where else I could go, but it's just something I want to try for now.”
Edgar looks at this move as just another chapter in his career, but by no means is it the end of the book. The drop to 145 pounds is right for now, but Edgar is all about challenges and some of those might lead him back to the lightweight division.
“It's just another stage to my career. I'm just trying to make the best of it I guess. I'm not cemented anywhere. You've got a guy like Dan Henderson who would fight 185 sometimes, 205 sometimes; if I could be that guy, that would be interesting too,” said Edgar.
“There are good guys at 55, good guys at 45; I know fans are definitely interested in some fights. So there's plenty of match-ups possible.”
For the immediate future, Edgar is ready to test himself with the best featherweights in the UFC, and he's hoping to get back in action by December.
“Whoever it is they'd like me to fight to get the No. 1 contender's spot, then let it be that. I'm sure they're going to throw me in there with a solid name,” Edgar commented.
The longterm goal for Edgar is to finally face reigning champion Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight title, but he's not skipping ahead just yet. He wants to establish himself in the division first, and then gun for another title to add to his resume.
“I always want to challenge myself and push myself to the limit,” said Edgar. “Being in the weight classes that I'm in there's always going to be good guys and good champions.”
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