FRANKIE EDGAR HAS confirmed that he was unable to take up the opportunity to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 196 this Saturday because of injury.
The 34-year-old American has been calling to enter the octagon with McGregor for some time but insists he couldn’t take this chance to replace Rafael dos Anjos in Las Vegas.
Speaking to the MMA Hour, the featherweight fighter said he tore his abductor tendon and sustained an injury to his groin a couple of weeks ago.
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“Just the situation that came about last week where RDA got hurt, I missed that opportunity because I’m banged up myself,” he said.
“I’m just a bit upset about how it originally went down, how the news was shared, but I’ve since calmed down. It is what it is, I’m hurt and that’s the bottom line. I couldn’t take this fight.
“About four weeks ago, I tore my abductor tendon, my groin and a couple of muscles. I’ve been having some issues with that area for a while. I actually had two epidurals for it, but that was just from overuse and inflammation in the area and this time something finally tore, it popped I hurt it.
“The first week I was having a hard time sitting on the toilet, but it got better. I have to stay doing something or I’ll go crazy. I was just doing what I can. I can’t roll, I can’t wrestle, I can’t spar. I can hit mitts a little bit and I can lift weights. To be honest, I’m just kind of surprised on how long it’s keeping me out. I thought I’d be well more ahead of where I am now, but it’s the way it goes.”
Edgar went on to insist he was almost tempted to accept the invitation to fight this weekend despite his lack of preparation and his physical condition.
“I would have (taken the fight). I was even enticing taking it now, but luckily I didn’t. I’m not in shape to be fighting or even training, to be honest. If I was even half healthy, I would have taken that fight.
“I was upset, man. I was waiting for this opportunity, here it comes and I can’t take it. I want to fight for the title, but to get the chance to fight Conor is second best, for a few reasons.
“Number one, I think I’d beat him. Obviously it comes with a lot of fans watching and I’d make some more money and I think a win over him at 155 [pounds] would have definitely given me the title shot at [1]45.”
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'I'm hurt' - Edgar confirms injury meant he couldn't fight McGregor
FRANKIE EDGAR HAS confirmed that he was unable to take up the opportunity to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 196 this Saturday because of injury.
The 34-year-old American has been calling to enter the octagon with McGregor for some time but insists he couldn’t take this chance to replace Rafael dos Anjos in Las Vegas.
Speaking to the MMA Hour, the featherweight fighter said he tore his abductor tendon and sustained an injury to his groin a couple of weeks ago.
“Just the situation that came about last week where RDA got hurt, I missed that opportunity because I’m banged up myself,” he said.
“I’m just a bit upset about how it originally went down, how the news was shared, but I’ve since calmed down. It is what it is, I’m hurt and that’s the bottom line. I couldn’t take this fight.
“The first week I was having a hard time sitting on the toilet, but it got better. I have to stay doing something or I’ll go crazy. I was just doing what I can. I can’t roll, I can’t wrestle, I can’t spar. I can hit mitts a little bit and I can lift weights. To be honest, I’m just kind of surprised on how long it’s keeping me out. I thought I’d be well more ahead of where I am now, but it’s the way it goes.”
Edgar went on to insist he was almost tempted to accept the invitation to fight this weekend despite his lack of preparation and his physical condition.
“I was upset, man. I was waiting for this opportunity, here it comes and I can’t take it. I want to fight for the title, but to get the chance to fight Conor is second best, for a few reasons.
“Number one, I think I’d beat him. Obviously it comes with a lot of fans watching and I’d make some more money and I think a win over him at 155 [pounds] would have definitely given me the title shot at [1]45.”
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