Tweet
Undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie “The Answer” Edgar recently spoke with Tapology’s Steven Kelliher ahead of his UFC 125 title bout with challenger Gray Maynard.
Heading into his first fight against BJ Penn for the title at UFC 112 in April, Edgar was a heavy underdog. After escaping with a close and controversial Unanimous Decision along with the UFC belt, the New Jersey native took a lot of flack from fans and critics who believed Penn either deserved the decision or had an off night. Edgar, on the other hand, took his belt home and quietly began preparing for the rematch.
“I try not to get too caught up in all that hype,” Edgar said, adding, “but it was definitely more satisfying the second time around. I had a perfect, natural progression to build my confidence throughout my whole career and the last fight just topped it off.”
Edgar is referring to his second victory over Penn, which came four months later in the main event of UFC 118 in Boston. This time, Edgar did more than escape with the belt, he made Penn look like an amateur in a division the Hawaiian had dominated for years.
“The biggest difference between the first and second fight was just knowing that I could do it the second time around; knowing that I had the ability to go in there and stand with BJ and grab some takedowns,” Edgar said. “Having done it the first time, I knew I could step it up and come out more aggressive in the second fight. I didn’t hesitate, and that was the biggest thing. If you sit there with BJ, he’s going to capitalize on it, so I knew if I wanted to take him down I had to be decisive.”
On Saturday, January 1, Edgar will take on his second official title challenger in the form of the undefeated Maynard. While the fight is not expected to sell particularly well among casual MMA fans, it marks an interesting challenge for Edgar, whose only career loss came to Maynard via Unanimous Decision in 2008. In that fight, Maynard utilized his superior size and strength to neutralize Edgar’s offense and secure the victory.
“It was a few years ago so a lot has changed for him and definitely for me,” Edgar said about the rematch. “We’re all going to find out whether or not I can beat Maynard on January 1st, so hopefully that will shut everybody up. Maybe what they’re saying will ring true and maybe it won’t.
“He gets his job done,” Edgar said about the challenger. “He gets a lot of flack for not being the most entertaining guy, but that’s not what it’s about. He wins. Nate Diaz and Kenny Florian tear people up and he’s beaten both of them, so I’ve got to give it to him.”
Asked what he had to do to come away with the win in the most difficult style match-up of his career, Edgar said, “I have to make a real effort not to get squeaked out in the rounds. I have to make sure I don’t get taken down and held down and I have to be pretty elusive.”
Edgar is a professional fighter first and foremost, which is why he refuses to assign importance to the majority of the criticism certain fans and pundits direct his way. With that said, Edgar wants it to be know that, while he rarely responds, he always listens.
“When I’m in there I don’t think of any of that stuff,” Edgar said. “I do hear it. I’m not really a computer guy, but I do hear it. I do think I’m an exciting fighter, though. I’ve won three Fight of the Nights and my last few fights I’ve been standing up with guys, so it’s just the fans and the media. You hear dominant wrestlers getting a lot of flack.”
An unlikely critic of Edgar’s upcoming fight is former top middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who publicly bashed the UFC’s decision to make the champion’s fight with Maynard the main event of a Pay Per View broadcast.
“It’s kind of funny to hear Chael Sonnen talking crap about us when he fights just like Maynard does, with that dominant wrestling style,” Edgar said. “I think people get a little aggravated at wrestlers because they keep winning fights.”
While few would argue with Edgar’s rightful place at the top the worldwide lightweight rankings, fans, pundits, and fellow fighters do not seem to equate him to the man he dethroned and then thrashed in an immediate rematch. For all of his losses, Penn had a true air of invincibility during his time as lightweight champion. Edgar, on the other hand, is still trying to earn the respect of his contemporaries, never mind their fear.
“If I can finish guys decisively [the fear] will come,” Edgar said, adding, “but since I am the smaller guy it’s going to be tough to make people fear me, I guess. Either way, I’m going to walk away with the W.”
Heading into his first fight against BJ Penn for the title at UFC 112 in April, Edgar was a heavy underdog. After escaping with a close and controversial Unanimous Decision along with the UFC belt, the New Jersey native took a lot of flack from fans and critics who believed Penn either deserved the decision or had an off night. Edgar, on the other hand, took his belt home and quietly began preparing for the rematch.
“I try not to get too caught up in all that hype,” Edgar said, adding, “but it was definitely more satisfying the second time around. I had a perfect, natural progression to build my confidence throughout my whole career and the last fight just topped it off.”
Edgar is referring to his second victory over Penn, which came four months later in the main event of UFC 118 in Boston. This time, Edgar did more than escape with the belt, he made Penn look like an amateur in a division the Hawaiian had dominated for years.
“The biggest difference between the first and second fight was just knowing that I could do it the second time around; knowing that I had the ability to go in there and stand with BJ and grab some takedowns,” Edgar said. “Having done it the first time, I knew I could step it up and come out more aggressive in the second fight. I didn’t hesitate, and that was the biggest thing. If you sit there with BJ, he’s going to capitalize on it, so I knew if I wanted to take him down I had to be decisive.”
On Saturday, January 1, Edgar will take on his second official title challenger in the form of the undefeated Maynard. While the fight is not expected to sell particularly well among casual MMA fans, it marks an interesting challenge for Edgar, whose only career loss came to Maynard via Unanimous Decision in 2008. In that fight, Maynard utilized his superior size and strength to neutralize Edgar’s offense and secure the victory.
“It was a few years ago so a lot has changed for him and definitely for me,” Edgar said about the rematch. “We’re all going to find out whether or not I can beat Maynard on January 1st, so hopefully that will shut everybody up. Maybe what they’re saying will ring true and maybe it won’t.
“He gets his job done,” Edgar said about the challenger. “He gets a lot of flack for not being the most entertaining guy, but that’s not what it’s about. He wins. Nate Diaz and Kenny Florian tear people up and he’s beaten both of them, so I’ve got to give it to him.”
Asked what he had to do to come away with the win in the most difficult style match-up of his career, Edgar said, “I have to make a real effort not to get squeaked out in the rounds. I have to make sure I don’t get taken down and held down and I have to be pretty elusive.”
Edgar is a professional fighter first and foremost, which is why he refuses to assign importance to the majority of the criticism certain fans and pundits direct his way. With that said, Edgar wants it to be know that, while he rarely responds, he always listens.
“When I’m in there I don’t think of any of that stuff,” Edgar said. “I do hear it. I’m not really a computer guy, but I do hear it. I do think I’m an exciting fighter, though. I’ve won three Fight of the Nights and my last few fights I’ve been standing up with guys, so it’s just the fans and the media. You hear dominant wrestlers getting a lot of flack.”
An unlikely critic of Edgar’s upcoming fight is former top middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who publicly bashed the UFC’s decision to make the champion’s fight with Maynard the main event of a Pay Per View broadcast.
“It’s kind of funny to hear Chael Sonnen talking crap about us when he fights just like Maynard does, with that dominant wrestling style,” Edgar said. “I think people get a little aggravated at wrestlers because they keep winning fights.”
While few would argue with Edgar’s rightful place at the top the worldwide lightweight rankings, fans, pundits, and fellow fighters do not seem to equate him to the man he dethroned and then thrashed in an immediate rematch. For all of his losses, Penn had a true air of invincibility during his time as lightweight champion. Edgar, on the other hand, is still trying to earn the respect of his contemporaries, never mind their fear.
“If I can finish guys decisively [the fear] will come,” Edgar said, adding, “but since I am the smaller guy it’s going to be tough to make people fear me, I guess. Either way, I’m going to walk away with the W.”
Comment