Frankie Edgar: 'I want it more than most guys'
Frankie Edgar says that he feels he's in his prime, right now, heading into his UFC Manila main event against Urijah Faber, on Saturday. Given that it has been years since he's been a world champion, it occurred to us that it is entirely possible that a certain amount of frustration could come with that.
Perhaps it would have been more useful to have reached his prime while he was the defending UFC lightweight champion, or during his razor-thin close decision loss over two years ago to featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Edgar may have reached the top of the UFC mountain before he had even reached his own personal peak.
Now, he's trying to catch up to his past accomplishments as he's become more skilled and experienced. So, while speaking with "The Answer" a little over a week before his fight with Faber, we asked the Toms River, N.J., resident if being in his prime, now, is more frustrating or motivating.
"It definitely makes me more hopeful, than anything," he says.
"I reached that title and I had room to grow. Now here we are a bunch of years later, and I still feel as though I have room to grow, but that I'm in my prime, overall. That makes me feel that there's even more I will accomplish."
This super fight with Edgar convinced Faber to go up in weight, back to 145 pounds where he himself was once world champion. Faber has told us that there wasn't much discussion of the fight happening anywhere else but at featherweight.
Edgar concurs. "It had to be at 145 pounds," he says.
"It kind of makes sense because we're both pretty much the same size. I think he walks around at around the same weight that I do. So, there's no need for any of us to suffer with cutting a ton of weight."
Because of Edgar's position in the featherweight division - he's won three straight after going the distance with Aldo in 2013 - whoever wins between he and Faber could very well find themselves next for the winner of UFC 189's Aldo vs. McGregor title main event.
Edgar has watched McGregor move ahead of him, in part, due to the brash Irishman's charisma and ability to sell the fight between he and Aldo. After his win over Cub Swanson, Edgar began to be more vocal in calling for another title fight.
Should he beat Faber, you'd better believe that the Ricardo Almeida team member will continue to sound the horn loudly and make a case for him to be the next featherweight title challenger. "I've been vocal in the past, like after my last fight," he says.
"McGregor did a good job of promoting himself and he handled his business in the cage. But it's a shame that all that talking is what it takes to get the title shot. I'm definitely going to let 'em know that I want it. If I win, I want the title shot, and everyone will know it."
Beating Faber will of course be no easy task for Edgar. In fact, this fight has been eagerly anticipated by UFC fans for so long precisely because it is so difficult to make a prediction.
Faber and Edgar have been at or near the top for so long and each possesses such phenomenal grappling and striking skills in addition to incredible physical strength and quickness. Faber himself told us that he can't know for certain if he'll be the stronger or faster man, until he gets in the cage with Edgar.
Edgar acknowledges that the fight is a toss-up, but takes confidence from the one trait that perhaps has come to define the wrestler-turned fighter more than any other - desire. Faber cited his creativity as his main advantage, Edgar says a will to win is his.
"I'd have to say that my drive to win, lay it on the line and push for the win is my main advantage against everyone," he concludes.
"I want it more than most guys. Deep down, I think I want it more."
Make sure to watch UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber at a special start time on Saturday morning -- 8am ET for the prelims airing on FOX Sports 1 followed by the main card at 10am ET only on FOX Sports 1.
