After an excellent knockout win over Chad Mendes on Friday night, Frankie Edgar’s next move is to sit cageside tonight at UFC 194.
The former UFC Lightweight Champion has won five straight fights since a decision loss to current Featherweight Champ Jose Aldo in his 145 lb debut, and following Friday’s event he warned both Aldo and Conor McGregor that he’s coming after whomever wins tonight.
“They knew I was coming. Now, I just solidified it,” Edgar said after the event (via FoxSports.com). “No matter what happens, I’m going to be knocking on that door and they’re going to answer and they’re going to see me.
“I’m coming for that title.”
He’ll get his chance next, as Dana White confirmed after the event that he’d be next in line.
“Nobody can deny Frankie anymore,” White said. “He looked amazing tonight and he’ll get whatever he wants.”
Penick’s Analysis: That was absolute best-case scenario for Edgar on Friday night. He picked up one of his greatest highlight-reel finishes in quick fashion, didn’t take much, if any, damage, beat one of the highest ranked fighters he’s faced in the division, and he’s likely forced the UFC’s hand. Prior to the weekend, the prevailing thought was that a McGregor win would lead right to a rematch with Jose Aldo, and though that could very well be the move they make, they’re going to have to give serious consideration to McGregor-Edgar in that scenario. He’s been denied so long, passed over for a deserved shot, and there’s no question at this point that he’s earned another shot. He looked so great on Friday night, and he’s going to be a serious challenge for whomever emerges from tonight’s event. If it’s Aldo once again, the rematch is going to be a very different fight than the one they had in 2013, and I’ll be just as excited to see that one as I am tonight’s main event.
[Frankie Edgar art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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