Frankie Edgar will stay at 155 and seek rematch with Benson Henderson
Posted on February 29, 2012, 05:28 PM by Trent ReinsmithFrankie Edgar walked into the Octagon this past Saturday with the UFC Lightweight title strapped around his waist. After a 25-minute battle with Benson Henderson he left the cage without that title as Henderson celebrated being crowned the new Lightweight Champion.
Almost as soon as he fell to Henderson, Edgar was assailed by questions if he would drop to the Featherweight division to challenge Jose Aldo for his UFC title. Edgar deflected the questions, but today, on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, he let it be known that his intention is to stay at lightweight and seek a rematch with Benson Henderson.
"I’m staying at 155. This is where I’m at right now. I still feel like I got a run left. I still want that title back,” Edgar continued, "That [rematch] is what I want. I think it’s right. I think I earned it. I’m not trying to put down Ben or any other contender, but I think I earned my spot to deserve this rematch." – for more see MMAFighting.com
Comments
Why not Frankie, you fight everyone 3 times.
Dana already said he would get an immediate title shot at 145. So if the rematch with Benson doesn't go through than why not move down?
Hey Frankie ! You're good , but you're too light mate !
Look at the size of henderson's legs !
He doesnt have time to"snatch" light weight like you ! You're just a worm up for him , Henderson now needs to workout with heavier LW fighter in order to put a stress on his muscle fibers
He's a true warrior, the definition of a true fighter.
one person three times....
Sarcasm is "a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; or taunt", usually conveyed through irony or understatement
Ssshut up mag
Thats a 44 Mag. to be specific, do you feel lucky punk? Do Ya?
What fighter who loses the title doesn't want an immediate rematch? But lets not confuse that with what is "right".
Look at the flip side. Maybe Frankie should be happy he had two rematches. He was fighting BJ at the start of his losing streak, after the skills had started to erode, but while he still had a big rep.
And Grey Maynard might have million dollar fists, but when it comes to fight strategy, he has a $1.99 brain.
So maybe Frankie should let his fists do the talking and the UFC worry about what is the 'right" match up. He's two quality wins away from a title shot, no matter who has the belt.
Mind you, I don't see it. More like 2 loses and then 145...
He had 2 losses at lw, one of which he has already avenged. Why so much doubt?
Personally I don't think Frankie has earned a rematch with Ben at all, Frankie only defended the belt twice and is by no means a legend like BJ was when he lost the belt (a fight that I didn't think Frankie had done enough to take the belt either) but Ben put a beating on Frankie and the fight was never close. Ben had Frankie rocked 4-5 times, ended 3 rounds in situations Frankie might not have gotten out of without the bell and almost had a couple of subs in as well.
No Frankie has not earned a title shot yet.
mann the last time Frankie fought a guy that wasnt ranked in the top 10 better yet top 7 was back in 06'everyone and was at the top of there game at the time ....Jim Miller,, Tyson Griffin,, Spenser Fisher, Sean Sherk,, Hermes Franca,, all bad asses,...Matt Veach was on like a 12-13 win streak
they guy earned his place and I thought the fight was close and good chance he didnt do enough to pull it off....it went to decsion he desrves
a rematch if Ben would of KOed him or what ever but didnt and see
the rematch beeing finished
Good to hear Frankie. It was a close and exciting fight and if he trains on nothing else but what to do after catching a guys leg he will have a much better chance. But of course he wont limit his training to that. Looking forward to a rematch, wonder who he will have to fight first. Then again Benson might lose to Pettis ....
I have no idea why people are saying Edgar should move down a weight he only lost 2 times in this division and the lost to Maynard has been squared up. Yes it would be a lot easier to go down a weight division but that what makes a champion into a champion taking the hard road instead of an easy ride to the top.
u know why benson is gonna be champ for a while? cuz he helps his mom at the grocery store! no other champ does that but him! The training mind process of what item goes where, helps him think of what kick/punch lands where.
Hope he gets a rematch but failing that give him Pettis and let winner of Miller Diaz get Henderson. The winners of each can then meet which I would expect to be Diaz Edgar but nothing's certain in this game especially in such an amazingly talented pool of fighters the LW division has become.
Good, he deserves to stay at 155. Look at the facts, he lost only twice in his career at 155, during his run as champ he beat not once but twice some who is regarded as the greatest 155'er of all time, he managed to survive an onslaught from maynard and then go on to KO him....not many fighters can say they have achieved what he has in any weight class. Also I know he is a small light weight, but thats what gives him the advantage, if he drops down to 145 (which is in my opinion a stupid mistake and cud take away from his legacy...but thats my opinion) ppl are gonna be just as fast as he is. And lets face it there is only really aldo there worth fighting for sum1 like frankie. these are the two scenerios that frankie faces at 145, he beats aldo gets back on the p4p list and fights very shallow competition for a while, aldo then moves up to 155 like the rumours have been suggesting. This leave frankie fighting pretty weak competition compared to the division that is lw, the 155 division is stupidly stacked and challenging...isnt that what every great fighter yearns for? The other sceniro plays like this, frankie drops down to 145 fights aldo and loses, once again aldo goes up to 155 where does this leave frankie. I think its a mistake going down to 155, he is getting fairly old now why waste time fighting in a shallow division waiting for it to gain more depth, it could be a couple of years before that happens and frankie will surley be entering his twilight years.
The reign of Frankie Edgar as the light weight champ has been a series of rematches. In four fights (including his winning the strap) he's only fought 2 opponents. His 5th fight he lost but the precedent for rematches during his tenure as champ has been set. Why would he not expect to get another chance? I would like to see Bendo vs Pettis II, but like Frankie said, what's right? He's proven that he can hang at LW. They gave BJ another crack at the belt.
Unfortunately, what seems only fair from a competitors perspective, is probably not what seems like a good move from a business perspective. The UFC brass is probably thinking that the fans are getting a bit weary of Franky Edgar rematches. Edgar vs Aldo is a more exciting prospect PPV wise then Bendo vs Edgar II.
It's a tough call. I personally think that if Frankie can still be a force at LW, he should stay there. He has proven that he's been able to neutralize size deficits on numerous occasions. I'd rather see him continue to defy the odds (so to speak) at LW, than go to FW. If the UFC wont give the rematch, give him the #1 contender at LW.
Why not have Pettis fight Edgar first. then the winner face the winner of the Miller/Diaz fight. The ultimate winner in those fights, let him face Henderson. That scenario sure seems best to me.