Edgar’s Coach Blasts Conor McGregor: Congrats On Fighting Opponents Your Own Size
Frankie Edgar’s coach Mark Henry went off on Conor McGregor online, but will his goading ‘Notorious’ to stay at lightweight actually work out for ‘The Answer’?
Most mixed martial arts (MMA) fans were happy to hear this week’s official confirmation that undisputed featherweight champion Conor McGregor would move up to lightweight to take on steamrolling titleholder Rafael dos Anjos for the 155-pound gold in the main event of March’s UFC 197 from Las Vegas.
Even if you aren’t a fan of the Irish trash talker’s antics in the media, you simply couldn’t deny that a bout between ‘Notorious,’ who has felled six out of seven total UFC opponents, and ‘RDA,’ who has shocked many by capping off a recent three-fight string with dominant wins over Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone, and Nate Diaz, had potential as one of the biggest fights all year.
That is of course, unless you’re Frankie Edgar and his team, who understandably feel that they were once again passed over for a fight with McGregor. The normally calm Edgar has been blasting the decision in the media nonstop, and his head coach Mark Henry has now jumped into the fight.
Henry got on Instagram to call ‘Notorious’ out for cutting a ton of weight to make the featherweight title fight limit of 145 pounds, a fact that’s become apparent by McGregor’s head coach John Kavanagh stating that he doesn’t want his star competitor to have to make that cut again. So while many people are ecstatic the UFC’s golden boy is going up to lightweight, Henry mocked McGregor’s decision based on his walking weight.
Find out what the fired-up coach had to say on the next page…
Unlike most of the 145 pd division that is upset you’re going up [in weight], I’m not. I want to congratulate you on actually fighting men your own size. I mean walking 175-180 fighting at 155 takes a brave man.
@thenotoriousmma and @coach_kavanagh unlike most of the 145 pd division that is upset you’re going up I’m not. I want to congratulate you on actually fighting men your own size. I mean walking 175-180 fighting at 155 takes a brave man. When you say 99 % of people couldn’t make the weight cut Conner makes to 145 your right, because 99 % of the fighters aren’t as scared as Conner to have to drop that much weight. Fear could will a man to do amazing things. Now why don’t you drop the security blanket and leave the 145 pd belt and go full blown BIG BOY. Congratulations again……. Almost. PS @frankieedgar walked 156 when he won 155 title.
Henry also wasn’t buying Kavanagh’s praise for McGregor’s spirit through the weight cut; suggesting that ‘Notorious’ is afraid of ‘The Answer’ (whom he noted won the lightweight title normally weighing 156 pounds) and should just stay at 155 when he goes up:
When you say 99 % of people couldn’t make the weight cut Conner makes to 145 your right, because 99 % of the fighters aren’t as scared as Conner to have to drop that much weight. Fear could will a man to do amazing things. Now why don’t you drop the security blanket and leave the 145 pd belt and go full blown BIG BOY. Congratulations again……. Almost.
PS @frankieedgar walked 156 when he won 155 title.
It’s no surprise that Edgar and his team are miffed by being passed by yet again, but it appears there’s nothing they can do about at this point. A featherweight bout with McGregor at this summer’s UFC 200 could be an even bigger payday for the former champ, but it’s also far from guaranteed that McGregor will move back down as Henry suggested in a roundabout way.
There’s also the possibility of Edgar battling Jose Aldo for the vacant featherweight belt should McGregor choose to stay, and his manager Ali Abdelaziz, who also manages dos Anjos, has said he won’t fight again unless it’s for a title. At this rate, that could be a while. Will ‘The Answer’ ever get his due?
