The Ultimate Fighter is set for December 11 in Las Vegas, and it looks like the main event will be a big one, what with reports stating that Chad Mendes will be returning for a face off against Frankie Edgar.
The UFC confirmed the main event after Lancenet.com first reported the blockbuster main event.
Word about the possible tiff has been circulating for quite some time now, and finally, it has been made official. The face off was set after Edgar expressed via Twitter that he was considering facing either Max Holloway or Jeremy Stephens for TUF 22.
Instead, he got a fighter who will now be able to fully prepare for the match.
It will be recalled that Mendes was selected to take the place of an injured Jose Aldo in UFC 189, facing Connor McGregor despite having little time to prepare.
Mendes made good in that bout, although the rigors of the match eventually took its toll on Mendes after failing to lock a guillotine maneuver.
Mendes had hoped for a second fight against McGregor but as everyone knows by now, it will be Jose Aldo who will finally face off against the Irishman at UFC 194, which will happen right after his match against Edgar this December.
Edgar will try to extend his winning streak to five against Mendes. His last fight was against Mendes' teammate Urijah Faber, which happened last May 16 at the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines. Edgar emerged with a unanimous decision victory over Faber.
However, with the December tiff set, Mendes can try and get payback for his friend, who has so far just lost to Aldo and McGregor.
When Aldo begged off, Edgar voluntarily voiced out as a possible replacement. Unfortunately, the man chosen was Mendes, who also wants revenge but this time, with a full training camp.
At stake is a possible shot at the winner of the Aldo vs. McGregor fight. Like Mendes, Edgar is hoping to get a possible title shot as well, which should add more flavor to the TUF 22 main event.
While the two will be getting it on, the winner will certainly keep a close watch on the result of the Aldo vs. McGregor fight. The winner of that match may eventually become the opponent of the Edgar vs. Mendes fight, with both fighters itching to get their hands on the UFC featherweight plum.