DESPITE SUSTAINING A rib injury earlier this week, Jose Aldo is still scheduled to defend his UFC featherweight title against Conor McGregor in Las Vegas on 11 July.
Should Aldo be deemed unfit to compete, the UFC have lined up number one contender Chad Mendes to step in and fight McGregor for an interim title instead.
After the panic and confusion that greeted the news of Aldo’s injury on Tuesday, that’s a scenario everyone seems satisfied by… except Frankie Edgar.
The former UFC lightweight champion was one of the first fighters to take to social media to offer his services as a replacement for Aldo.
Many saw Edgar as the most likely candidate to step in. Since his loss to Aldo in February in 2013, the 33-year-old New Jersey native has won four consecutive bouts — the most recent of which saw him dominate Urijah Faber over five rounds last month.
However, the UFC have called on Mendes instead and Edgar was back on Twitter today to express his disappointment.
should have*
I think it may be a blessing in disguuse for Frankie. Either way he will be getting the next title shot after any obligatory rematches are dealt with. That way he will have a full training camp behind him rather than two weeks notice.
I’m not so sure about that. If Chad steps in to fight Conor. The winner will then fiight Aldo. If that’s Conor and he wins (which I think is very likely) there’s a very good chance of a rematch. Edgar might have a bit of a wait before he gets that shot!
Shut up shut up SHUT UP
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I read the whole article in Troy McClures voice and it f***ing got to me.
I’m sorry.
Frankie definitely deserves it more. In Aldos last fight he beat Mendes for the second time. If Mendes does step in and win, Aldos next fight will be against the guy he beat in his last fight. Frankie hasn’t lost since his 2013 fight with Aldo and has won 4 fights since then. He has done a lot more since his last loss so in my book he has earned it. However, Edgar probably has a better chance of beating Conor so that’s why they picked Chad. Aldo vs McGregor is the real money fight so the UFC want to see that happen.
Edgar and Mendes have never fought. If Aldo McGregor goes ahead, with Edgar ready to fight and Mendes in camp for back up as we speak, they should have a title eliminator fight for the right to face the new champion.