Frankie Edgar ‘Itching’ To Fight, Eyes Title Shot With Win Over BJ Penn
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar looked on top of the world as he battered Gray Maynard in the fourth round of their trilogy making fight at UFC 136. The bout was the third as champion for ‘The Answer’, after winning the belt from B.J Penn at UFC 112, defending it against the very same at UFC 118, and fighting to a draw with ‘The Bully’ at UFC 125.
Then came the two consecutive losses to Benson Henderson and a failed attempt as a featherweight at Jose Aldo‘s title. Edgar’s three fight slide was halted as he beat Charles Oliveira at UFC 162, and now he looks to make yet another trilogy as he battles B.J Penn again at The Ultimate Fighter 19 finals. ‘The Answer’ appeared on today’s edition of ‘The MMA Hour‘, check out what he said about the lay off to film TUF:
“It has been frustrating, I’m itching to fight. I enjoy doing what I do. The time away from fighting, for that long, I wouldn’t like to do it again. There wasn’t much drama between me and BJ (on the show), so they filmed the guys a lot. These guys are locked in a house away from the outside world, there is a lot of pressure. I tried out for TUF 5, when BJ was coach, and they turned me down. I was heart broken. Maybe they filled the void with Gray Maynard…”
A year off from fighting doesn’t seem as hard to come back from as it used to, especially with the smart training, so hopefully BJ and Edgar are ready to give their best on July 6. The bout will be the first for ‘The Prodigy’ at 145 pounds, and the first time the two have met outside the lightweight division. ‘The Answer’ plans on getting another title shot should he beat Penn, as he continues:
“I don’t care who wins, but I would love to be the guy to take it from Aldo. That’s if Chad Mendes doesn’t beat him. If (Mendes) goes in confident, how he’s been looking lately; I think he could beat him. But I don’t care who has the title, I’m kind of an easy guy to give a title shot to, I’ve been in seven UFC title bouts. I can’t wait to return, I’m so excited.”
Not much longer for Edgar to wait, and I can’t say I’m not excited to see how Penn looks at featherweight. Not only has Penn fought Edgar twice, but he can rely on new training partner Jose Aldo for tips on how to beat ‘The Answer’. ‘Junior’ beat Edgar at UFC 156, so let’s see if ‘The Prodigy’ can use that experience to his advantage. Any takers on Penn getting one back against Edgar?
