Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar is adamant a shot at newly-crowned UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is next on his agenda and expects the fight to be announced for this fall.
Edgar, 35, looked as good as he has ever looked in May, when bursting the hype bubble of Yair Rodriguez, and now seemingly has his sights firmly set on Holloway and UFC gold. It’s a title shot many believed Edgar has earned, having beaten most featherweights not named Jose Aldo, and one that became viable the moment Holloway defeated Aldo in June and announced himself as undisputed champion.
Had it been the other way around – had Aldo prevailed – there would have been far less interest in Edgar renewing acquaintances with the Brazilian for a third time. But, as it happened, Holloway came of age in Brazil, extended his undefeated run to eleven fights, and Edgar consequently stands on the cusp of the fight he has been targeting ever since he dropped to featherweight in 2013.
“I guess we haven’t heard anything official, but that’s the way it’s leaning,” he told Fighters Only on Thursday. “I feel confident we’re going to fight some time, I believe, in the fall. I don’t know the exact date.”
As for Holloway, his potential next opponent, Edgar, 22-5-1, has nothing but respect. He has watched the Hawaiian cut a swathe through the 145lb weight class and now, after watching him demolish Aldo at UFC 211, believes the go-getting 25-year-old could be his toughest test yet.
“He’s tough, man,” said the New Jersey native. “He might be the best guy I’ve fought to date. Super long and rangy, he’s a fighter’s fighter and brings it every time. He can go all five hard rounds, so I’ll have my hands full.”
*** For an exclusive interview with Frankie Edgar check out the September issue of Fighters Only magazine ***
