Frankie Edgar kommer härnäst att ta sig an Yair Rodriguez under UFC 211.
Edgar kände att UFC:s tanke med matchningen är att tydlig och vet att en vinst för Yair är något som kommer ta den unge mexikanen till nya nivåer. Det är dock ingenting som kommer att ske enligt Edgar.
Via UFC:
I kinda keep it moving. I don’t really look too much into things. I’ve got a job to do and that’s all I focus on.
I’d be stupid not to suspect that, at least. It’s kind of win-win for them. This guy beats me, he catapults up the rankings, but if I beat him, there’s no loss for him because he really wasn’t supposed to win. So I feel like it’s a good way to get his name out there, but I’m looking at it in a different way. I’m like a vampire – I’m gonna go get some of that young blood and steal some of his fans.
Två matcher efter förlusten mot fjäderviktsmästaren Jose Aldo har Edgar lyckats behålla sin rankning, efter vinsten via domslut mot Jeremy Stephens i november förra året.
Det finns nu en chans att Edgar får en ny chans på bältet med en vinst mot Rodriguez.
I think I’m always going to be knocking on the door for a title based on what I’ve done and who I am. But yeah, I think Holloway would have to win for me to get that next title shot. I’m not one to root for it, though. Things will play out the way they do and if they don’t, so be it. Ever since I lost that title in 2012, I’ve been gunning for it, and you lose sight of what’s in front of you at times. So right now, I just want to worry about what’s next, keep fighting and stay busy.
My goal was always to be the best. I didn’t want to be second best. I was second best many times in my wrestling career, I came up short quite a few times in the UFC and it stings. I tell my kids, when you do something, you do it to fulfill your best potential and be number one. And that’s always going to be my goal, but I’m not dwelling on it as much as I used to. Don’t get it twisted – I still want to be the best fighter I can possibly be, but I’m just living in the moment.
Edgar är tveksam till om Rodriguez är redo för honom.
I don’t know. I don’t think he knows. It’s definitely a big step for him, and we’re gonna find out on fight night for sure. But no matter what, he’s gonna have a bright future in this sport, being so young and being where he is right now. But there are levels to this and sometimes you can’t get to the next level until you see what’s in front of you, and I still feel like I’m still the man. I had that hiccup against Aldo, it wasn’t my best performance. I felt I rebounded nicely against Stephens and I’m still one of the best fighters at 145 and I’m gonna go out and show Yair what it’s all about.
Edgar segrade i sin elfte professionlla match mot den forne lättviktsmästaren Sean Sherk och blev efter två matcher till den nye lättviktsmästaren.
He (Sherk) was a former champion, was in there with Matt Hughes and BJ (Penn), so I knew once I was able to get it done and get my hand raised against him that there’s no reason why I can’t be a champion.
Edgar planerar dock inte att ge Rodriguz denna chansen.
There could be damage coming my way in this fight, and good thing I handle it well. Not that I want to go in there and take any damage. I like to go in fights and walk away nicely, but I’m willing to get busted up to get it done, and if that’s what it takes, so be it.
UFC 211 äger rum i Dallas i Texas den 13 maj.
