Frankie Edgar is set to face Chad Mendes at the Ultimate Fighter Season 22 this December 11, but it looks like the 33-year-old American mixed martial artist is looking forward to something else, probably bigger.
The former lightweight champ could be in line as the chief replacement in the event that either Connor McGregor or Jose Aldo suffers an untimely injury en route to their much-awaited clash at UFC 194, which is set for December 12 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
Recall that back in UFC 189, it was his upcoming opponent (Chad Mendes) who got the call from the UFC to fill in for Jose Aldo, who was forced to beg off due to a rib injury he sustained in training. Ironically, the shoe will be on the other foot this time around if either Aldo or McGregor begs off.
"If someone gets hurt, I'm the guy stepping in, and that's from Dana White. You can print that in bold letters," says Edgar via UFC.ca.
Edgar further elaborated that the opportunity is not solely for money but more on getting the UFC title back on his waist.
Apparently, Edgar knows how it feels to be a champion, and it goes way beyond the money tied with it.
"I want that title. That, to me, is the most important thing. Connor may be the money fight, but when you win a title, that stays with you forever. Money comes and goes. You're a champ for the rest of your life. I did it at 155 and I want to do it at 145."
For now, there is no indication that either Aldo or McGregor are nursing injuries but just the same, it never hurts to hope for the best (or is it the worse?).
Edgar has faced Jose Aldo before. It was in 2013 when Edgar dropped to the 145-pound weight class and took Aldo to the limit.
The champion (Aldo) won that one, a close five-round decision. Since that loss, Edgar has racked up four straight wins and will be riding on that streak against Mendes or even either Aldo or McGregor should the unfortunate indeed happen.
With the fight/s still months away, anything can happen. In a way, Edgar may be leaving it to chance. However, before looking (and hoping) that far, it may be best for the former champ to set his sights on his actual tiff, that of which is against Chad Mendes, who simply ran out of gas against McGregor but certainly made a good showing despite short notice.
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