Former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar challenges UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway for the gold this March at UFC 222.
Edgar is going to be competing in a ninth title bout under the UFC banner, but the former champion calls the featherweight champion the toughest he’s ever fought in a title bout.
“I’m going to have to say yes, based on what he’s done in his career at this point,” Edgar said to Yahoo! Sports. “With him being so young and people want to say I’m being old, so I think this is my toughest test but this is what I want. If you want to be the best, you have to go after the best guys. I do think I have that chip [on my shoulder of being too small]. I think you need to have a chip on your shoulder regardless, but the fact that people tell me I’m too small, or not strong enough, not tall enough and now I’m too old, that’s definitely motivating and I love proving people wrong. If I’m able to do that, that’s a notch on my hat.”
The New Jersey native has failed to capture the featherweight gold twice before, last losing to Jose Aldo by decision at UFC 200.
If Edgar wants to take the gold home, one thing the fighter feels he’ll have to do is use a top notch wrestling game.
“Obviously, my wrestling background I think is something I’ll try to execute. Everyone knows that. Every fight, I go out there and throw a lot of punches and look for takedowns. It’s going to be no different this time around. We’re going to see. We’re going to see how his wrestling defense really is. He’s fought some wrestlers, but I don’t think he’s fought anyone the level of my wrestling right now,” says Edgar.
UFC 222 takes place on Saturday, March 3 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
